Members of the Smiths Falls community were on hand Sunday to help sort and collect donations for the 14 people left homeless after a massive fire Friday night.
Bags of clothing and boxes full of food were stacked outside the Zendragon Martial Arts, Fitness and Yoga Studio Sunday as volunteers worked to load everything into several moving vans. The items, destined for a local church for sorting before being donated to the victims, were collected throughout the weekend.
"Whatever the community had they brought in. Within the span of five hours we filled half, we filled up half the gym with food and clothing," said Neil Pipher, the co-owner of ZenDragon.
The owners of Zendragon offered their business as a sort of collection and distribution portal for residents looking to help. Soon Phipher said they had a steady stream of people making drop-offs.
"We can't replace their memories, but we can help with the anxiety of thinking I've lost everything," Phipher added.
14 people, including an infant and another young child, were left homeless after a fire ripped through a series of townhouses late Friday night.
Bernice Morris lived in her Robinson Avenue home for several decades. Her parents had lived there since the 1970s.
"All I have is the clothes on my back," she said.
They won't let us get anything because they are demolishing it. It's been hard."
Morris and her husband stood helplessly behind the caution tape Sunday as crews demolished their home and all the memories inside. She said the support from the community and her family has been a source of comfort in this difficult and heartbreaking time.
"To see what they are doing is absolutely beautiful. they are making things not as hard. saying hey we are here. we are here to help," Morris said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
