PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — As the city works to support the families affected by Wednesday’s fatal fire in Fairmount, the School District of Philadelphia is asking people not to drop off food or clothing at the nearby Bache-Martin Elementary School.
Instead, the district is asking for monetary donations to its nonprofit fundraising arm, the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia.
“The money will be used for the family in whatever way they need it,” said Donna Frisby-Greenwood, fund president and CEO. “Whether it’s for clothing for family members who survived the fire or to support funeral expenses or any expenses that they need.”
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In the past, Frisby-Greenwood said the nonprofit’s Family Support Fund had been used in instances like helping the families of students who died suddenly pay for funeral expenses.
“We have had an emergency fund in the past when the district has had emergencies, and we’ve supported families through that fund in the past,” she added. “But that fund had gotten depleted, and so we didn’t have anything to provide at this time for this emergency when it came up.”
Since the Fairmount fire, more than $65,000 has come in from individual donors as well as corporate contributions from GoPuff, Giant Foods and the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia is coordinating with the offices of the mayor and the City Council president to ensure that the money raised goes directly to the families affected, Frisby-Greenwood assured.
“It’s just tragic,” she said. “When you think about it, you think this could be your family or my family or anyone’s family that this could have happened to. And to see the city come together is heartening.”
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