LINCOLN PARK (WWJ) - Community members in and around Lincoln Park are stepping up to help after a devastating fire tore through the Junior Rails little league football facility on Monday afternoon.
Glenn Higgins, president of Junior Rails Youth Football and Cheerleading, took to social media to inform the community of the fire and clarified no one was hurt or at the facility at the time of the blaze, which broke out sometime before 4 p.m.
But the building -- and everything inside of it -- was lost.
"Every bit of our practice equipment, tackling dummies, practice dummies, every pad, every piece of equipment that wasn’t on a child’s back was in that building,” Higgins told WDIV.
The president said the organization is now focusing on keeping more than 150 kids in their cheer and football programs moving forward -- and community members are joining in to help.
The Lincoln Park School District reached out to organize the league's practices at its field, which is the same facility the Jr. Rails already play their games.
According to Higgins, other teams in their league have also offered assistance and on Tuesday, Lincoln Park Nutrition located at 2617 Dix Highway is holding a fundraiser from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a portion of the day’s sales going to the Junior Rails.
“We talk to especially the boys a lot about the next play, only being the important play,” Higgins said. “Whatever happened in the last play is already over with; all we can do is move forward.”
Higgins said practice will resume on Tuesday (Oct. 3) and the team will play their regularly scheduled game this upcoming Saturday.
At this time, it is unclear what caused the fire but the case remains under investigation. The building was deemed a total loss after firefighters from almost half a dozen departments battled to extinguish the flames.
Higgins said that despite the setback, it will "take more than a fire to stop the Jr Rails."
In an updated post, Higgins added the alternative practice locations for this week as:
• Football will practice at the Board of Education, 1650 Champaign from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Cheer will practice at the Lincoln Park Middle School. They will also practice 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
"We will be exploring other options for the rest if the season. We will keep you updated as to any changes," Higgins added. "We don't need this building to be the Jr Rails! The Jr Rails are all of us and we are all okay! We will finish our season then we will rebuild!"
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the league replace the equipment that was lost. As of Tuesday morning, the crowdfunding page has raised $875 out of a $10,000 goal.
The Jr. Rails website says the organization prides itself on inspiring youth through football and cheerleading by teaching fair play, sportsmanship, honesty, and fellowship. Over 150 children from the ages five to 13 participate in its cheer and football programs.