WESTFIELD—After a local woman’s apartment was burned down last week, one of the items she missed most was her George Foreman Grill.
Elaine, who requested that her last name not be used, has since received a new George Foreman grill from a local Good Samaritan, along with several other items to replace all that she lost during the fire. She received the items due in large part to two local women, Pat—who also requested that her last name not be used—and Lisa Lindsay. The two have helped to gather items from the community through social media and friends, and are seeking out more donations.
“Basically, put yourself to when you were 18 and moving into your first apartment,” Lindsay said. “What did you need to get started?”
Elaine lost the apartment she rented from Pat’s family member in the early morning hours of June 24. A blaze started in a neighbor’s shed and eventually spread to Elaine’s apartment, and was considered suspicious. According to Pat, the family received word that an arrest was made related to the fire, but the Hampden County District Attorney’s office was not available for comment and the Hampden County Juvenile Court declined comment, so this is yet to be confirmed.
Emergency services personnel outside the 24 Meadow St. address where the fire took place. (Photo submitted by Kathleen Harrington)
Elaine said that she woke up to see flames leaping outside her window. She immediately called 911.
“I knew that they would need me out of the house so I put on some clothes and walked out,” she said.
After the fire tore through the home, Elaine said that the police told her everything had melted or burned.
Elaine said that among the items she lost were her walker, her false teeth and many household appliances—including the George Foreman grill and a NuWave oven. She cherished both of the items above all else.
“I can live without my teeth, I can’t live without my grills,” Elaine said.
“I had a walker that had a seat on it and that’s how I got around the house,” she said. Elaine would use the walker and rest by sitting on it whenever her legs became tired, which was often.
Lisa and Pat have received several items to replace what Elaine has lost, such as clothing, some small appliances, a bed and some furniture for Elaine, but they stress that she still needs more.
“Small appliances is what she needs right now—she doesn’t have a microwave,” Lisa said.
And while Elaine was fortunate enough to receive the George Foreman Grill that meant a lot to her, she is still without her NuWave oven, walker or laptop, which she said she also used often.
Elaine said that she also uses a paper bag for a pocket book because she didn’t even have time to grab that.
Lindsay and Pat have vowed to continue to help Elaine, and support has come out of where Lindsay was first struck with the idea of how to help.
Lindsay said that the inspiration to help Elaine came in part because of Facebook. Lindsay takes part in forums on Facebook that center around Westfield, including the “The Westfield Community Forum.” She said that she has seen community outreach in the past on the forums and thought that it would be a great way to assist Elaine.
“I’m recovering from a major surgery and felt I had to do something, so I took her picture, put it on the forum and asked for help,” Lindsay said. “Within 10 minutes people were reaching out.
“It’s just amazing that people are responding the way that they are. Even small business owners have reached out. People are just amazing,” she said.
But in spite of the outreach and community support, the fire has caused traumatic psychological effects on Elaine.
Elaine said that she has had recurring panic attacks since the fire, which have been triggered by things such as the reflection of a television on a window or a light being obscured by a spinning pinwheel which “sort of looked like a flame,” she said.
“That night and the entire next day I couldn’t sleep. Every time I close my eyes I see flames,” Elaine said.
Still, Elaine has tried her best to keep a good mindset.
“I’m trying to keep really positive about it. I’m not a materialistic person,” Elaine said.
“No one got hurt, that’s the big thing. Everything else can be replaced but not a human life.”
Pat also felt that in spite of the tragedy, the work that the community has done, as well as the many providers there at the fire and after, has made the ordeal easier to handle.
“One thing that I gotta say—the Westfield Police Department, Fire Department and Red Cross did an excellent job,” Pat said.
If anyone would like to donate appliances, clothing, furniture or gift cards to purchase items, you can email the author of this story at [email protected] or call The Westfield News at (413)562-4181, and you will be put in touch with the right people to contact.
