Lafayette Street - front

Vandergrift - It is difficult for us to imagine the tragedy of watching your home burn and suddenly find yourself without a home, clothing, furniture and the necessities of life. Last Tuesday, November 30th, there was not one home, but four that burned. Three of these homes were destroyed and one other damaged. The homes were 133, 135, 137, and 139 Lafayette Street in Vandergrift.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army, both based in New Kensington, responded with some immediate help. The Kiski Area Association of Churches (formerly the Vandergrift Ministerial Alliance) held an emergency meeting and immediately established the KAAC Lafayette Street Fire Fund to give short to long-term aid to the families. Immediate aid was given to three of the families to give them gas for their vehicles and personal necessities.

Cash donations are requested to help these families pay bills, secure necessities of their choice and assist them with temporary housing. You can help by making a donation. Make your checks payable to:

KAAC LAFAYETTE STREET FIRE FUND
First Commonwealth Bank
152 Grant Avenue
Vandergrift, PA 15690

Donations may also be made at the bank offices in Vandergrift, Leechburg or Allegheny Township or mailed to First Commonwealth Bank at the above address.

Anyone who can offer a truck and labor to help pick up furniture and other material donations would also be greatly appreciated. Please contact Rev. Keith Deckinger, Coordinator, at 724-567-6813

A media release was sent to all area media and began appearing by the weekend. Church bulletins were distributed to area churches for inserting in last Sunday’s bulletin and flyers were printed that will be distributed to the homes by area church members. Posters will also be up in the stores soon.

The Kiski Area Association of Churches will also be holding a Christmas Carol Program on Sunday, December 12th from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Ferrante Community Center (The former Trinity Presbyterian Church on Franklin Avenue, Vandergrift). Donations will be given to the KAAC Lafayette Street Fire Fund.

Thrivent Financial Services for Lutherans Disaster Relief has granted $5,000.00 towards the fund that will be presented at the Christmas Carol Program. The Reverend Phil Gustafson of New Hope Ministries made an emergency grant application that was approved within a few days.

The Kiski Area Association of Churches appointed the Reverend Keith Deckinger, pastor First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Vandergrift and Faith Lutheran Church in Oklahoma, Coordinator of the fire fund.

The four families burned out area are Anna Cannon, 93 years old, and lived alone at 139 Lafayette Street. The house will be condemned. Her family was able to retrieve many items from the first floor. Where she will reside is uncertain at this point. She is presently with family in Ohio. She has lived in this house since 1957; Ron and Tammy Hepler at 137 Lafayette Street, where the fire originated, have two children: Steven Frame (16) and Amber Hepler (8). They lost everything but the clothes on their back. Fortunately all their Christmas gifts were at her parents’ home. This house is a total loss; Amy Johns, 135 Lafayette Street, has three young children and was renting this house. They lost most everything and this house is not repairable; and, Melissa Smith Cochran, 133 Lafayette Street, has three children, a four-year-old son, a school aged daughter and a daughter who is a student at Duquesne University. Her house sustained minimal fire damage, but some significant water and smoke damage. It is repairable so she should be able to move back after repairs are made.

The Kiski Area Association of Churches purpose in establishing the KAAC Lafayette Street Fire Fund is to render both short and long term aid to these families. Re-establishing the families will require ongoing efforts to assist them according to their needs.

Members of Kiski Area Association of Churches are Rev. Scott Pacifico, Community Church of Pine Run; Rev Jim Kauffman, First Baptist Church; Rev Chuck Hildbold, Jr., First United Methodist Church; Rev. Keith Deckinger, First Evangelical Lutheran Church (and Faith Lutheran Church, Oklahoma); Rev. Steve Myers, Grace Community Church; Rev. W. David Milligan, Kiski Valley Presbyterian Church of America; Rev. T.J. McLaughlin, Pleasant View Brethren Church; Fr. Chad Ficorilli, OSB, St. Gertrude’s Roman Catholic Church; Rev. Richard Grance, St. Paul’s Lutheran Highfield Church; Rev. Phil Gustafson, New Hope Ministries (St. Paul’s Lutheran, Vandergrift and Reformation Lutheran Church, Kepple Hill); and, Rev F. Neal Galley, Vandergrift Presbyterian Church.

See photos of the fire:
http://www.alle-kiskitoday.com/news/1671

Lafayette Street

Lafayette Street - rear (in alley)