The tragedies that have hit the North region in the past 13 months have sounded the alarm for charitable donations. People are homeless, short of cash, and still in shock. Their grief has touched the emotional heart of each community, none of which has great wealth. Still, thousands of dollars have been donated to help the victims and survivors of the unusual spate of explosions and serious fires, three of which occurred in the last two months.
An eight-alarm fire destroyed an old apartment house and a beloved synagogue in Gloucester. A tanker truck carrying 9,400 gallons of gasoline crashed in Everett, igniting a wall of fire that destroyed two triple-deckers and 21 cars. A steam explosion at Salem Harbor Power Station killed three workers, leaving two families fatherless and a third mourning a son. An ink and paint factory blew up, flattening a Danvers neighborhood.
In Gloucester, where the fire that began Friday night was the biggest in recent history, the blaze destroyed a 25-unit apartment house and Temple Ahavat Achim, the only synagogue on Cape Ann. Almost from the first flicker of flame, people rushed to supply food for more than 100 firefighters who battled the blaze and offer support to more than 30 people left homeless.
"That's Gloucester," said Mayor John Bell, his eyes moist, as he visited the still-smoldering fire on Monday. "We're a community that historically has suffered great losses. But we have also learned to cope with tragedy, and do our best."
The need comes as charitable organizations face greater demand for services. The high cost of gasoline and home heating bills this winter, along with the ongoing foreclosure crisis, have strained already thin budgets, social service providers said.
"The line outside my door gets longer and longer," said Ralph Johnson, director of housing at Action Inc., the Gloucester nonprofit collecting clothes for fire victims. "People can't afford heat, electricity. They're looking for low-cost housing, food. . . . The need is much greater, and started earlier, than in years past."
In Everett, where the Dec. 5 tanker rollover left 47 people homeless, the fire has taxed the city's human services department "to the limit," director Carolyn Lightburn said. Some still are looking for permanent housing. They're now in hotels, paid for with donations from the Main Street Relief Fund. "I can't put a family out in this kind of weather," Lightburn said.
November and December are big months for holiday giving, but they also are hard times to raise emergency funds.
Individual donors may have already pledged to their favorite charity in time to claim a year-end tax break.
Charitable foundations, which often disperse major gifts on a planned schedule, have doled out all their money for the year.
"A lot of people have reached their limit," said Charlie Vose, vice chairman of the disaster services for the American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts, which is helping the Gloucester victims. "It's really a tough time of year to be looking to raise money."
But when disaster strikes locally, people have big hearts. In Danversport, where 70 homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged Nov. 22, 2006, private contributions to The Danversport Relief Fund total about $500,000.
The Dominion Survivors Fund, set up to aid the families of Salem power plant workers Mark Mansfield of Peabody, Phillip Robinson of Beverly, and Matthew Indeglia of Lawrence, who died Nov. 6, has so far raised more than $100,000, with donations coming from Dominion workers across the country, according to the union at the plant.
And Everett Mayor John Hanlon on Tuesday said $40,000 will be distributed this week from the Main Street Relief Fund to the 47 victims.
"They need the money to live," he said. "Some people are still living in hotels, or with friends. They need to get started again."
A $10,000 donation to The Gloucester Fund, a charitable trust, was made by the owners of the burned-down Lorraine Apartments. They also are paying for people to stay at the Cape Ann Marina Resort.
"We feel very bad about what happened," said Gary Raso, one of three landlords. "We want to help them find new apartments."
More than 30 lived in the 25-unit building on Middle Street. Rents ranged from $800 to $1,200 per month, drawing a mix of elderly, young couples, and parents with teens or young adult children.
One resident, Robert L. Taylor, 70, the building's beloved handyman, died in the fire after being trapped in his third-floor apartment.
"I started to shake a little when I got here," said former resident Ed Herman, 52, on Monday, returning to the site for the first time. "It's unbelievable what happened."
The Gloucester fire likely started in the basement of the almost 100-year-old wooden structure. It spread rapidly through the floors and walls, filling the white building with thick, black smoke.
All but Taylor, who had hip problems and lived alone, made it out.
"The real tragedy here is Bob Taylor," said Herman, an artist, who lost 150 oil paintings in the blaze. "I remember seeing his arms waving out the window. It looked like he was trying to reach for somebody."
Herman helped Gloucester fire and police try to save Taylor. He held a flashlight on the window while a ladder was put up to the narrow opening. "We were chanting 'Bob,Bob, put your head out,' " said Herman, a friend of the victim's. "But he didn't make it."
Most residents lost all their possessions. Few are believed to have had insurance.
Herman - who fled in jeans, a black sweater, canvas jacket, and high rubber boots - is heartened by the offers of help. "There are a lot of beautiful people out there," he said, standing by the charred rubble of his former home. "I believe that."
Kay Lazar of the Globe staff contributed to this story. Kathy McCabe can be reached at kmccabe@globe.com.
How to help
Funds to assist residents affected by recent tragedies in Danvers, Everett, Gloucester, and Salem have been set up. Here's how anyone can contribute.
Danvers
The Danversport Relief Fund continues to receive donations for blast victims. Send to The Danversport Relief Fund, c/o Danversbank, 1 Conant St., Danvers, MA 01923
Everett
The Main Street Relief Fund assists residents left homeless by a Dec. 7 gas tanker rollover. Send contributions to the fund c/o Eagle Bank, 466 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149
Gloucester
The Gloucester Fund asks for a note indicating if the donation is to help people left homeless by the Dec. 14 fire or to aid Temple Ahavat Achim. Send contributions to The Gloucester Fund, 45 Middle St., Gloucester, MA 01930. Checks with "Middle Street fire" noted in the memo also can be sent to Action Inc., 5 Pleasant St., Gloucester, MA 01930. The American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts wants to collect $40,000 to $50,000 for its emergency disaster fund to help Gloucester fire victims. Contributions can be sent to the agency's office at 100 Cummings Center, Suite 201F, Beverly, MA 01915
Salem
Dominion Survivors Fund, to aid the families of three workers killed at the Salem Harbor Power Station Nov. 6. Send contributions to IBEW Local 326 First Choice Credit Union, 55 Marston St., Lawrence, MA 01840.
Compiled by Kathy McCabe
