The local Sikh community has pulled together to support residents of the Empire Complex.
The Timmins Gurdwara has been collecting donations from communities in southern Ontario and locally in Timmins to help after the fire at the downtown apartment building.
Yesterday afternoon, when TimminsToday stopped by the gurdwara, piles of sweaters, coats, pants, and other essential clothing were laid out throughout the building's entranceway. Volunteers and some of the people affected by the fire have gone through the donations sorting by size and type of clothing.
Those affected have been picking up the clothes directly from the gurdwara, but Bains said they will be adding the donations to the collection organized by the official groups.
Volunteers at the Timmins Gurdwara have also been serving meals prepared at the nearby Punjabi restaurant to those in need and delivering meals to the Bon-Air Motel as well.
“Some came and took from here, some ate here and some of the volunteers took it to the Bon-Air Motel, and gave it to everybody that needed there,” said Kanwaljit Bains, one of the founders of the gurdwara.
RELATED: Empire Complex fire deemed accidental, building released back to owner
Bains and her family are also offering those who may have lost documents related to their visas or permanent residency in the fire help will be available through Bains Professional Corporation in Timmins.
“I have reached out to the consular general of India, and I did inform them of the situation,” she said. “We will provide them with a free service to get their documents obtained from the consular general of India, or if they need their SIN reissued or their permanent residency reissued, those are the services we will provide.”
Bains said the community's reaction was heartwarming, and more donations are coming in from southern Ontario as well.
“It’s overwhelming, the donations,” she said. “We’re just trying to sort it out and trying to help these kids.”
She said they are happy that everyone was evacuated safely from the building.
“Things can be replaced but not the lives,” she said.
The cause of the fire has been deemed accidental. The building has been turned over to the property owner, who will decide who is allowed to enter and how the personal belongings of about approximately 100 tenants affected will be retrieved.
Cash donations are still being accepted for people wanting to help the people affected by the fire.
The money will be dispersed to the people affected by the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB). The organization says staff are assessing the needs of those affected to make sure that the people displaced by the fire benefit directly from the money raised.
Donations can be made through Service Timmins, which is located in city hall at 220 Algonquin Blvd. E.
You can stop by in person or e-transfer [email protected] with the note in the message saying EMPIRE. Donations over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt. To get the receipt, you must send an email that is clearly marked Empire Complex to [email protected] with the donor's name and address.
