PILSEN — A Pilsen business is collecting donations for families who are homeless after a devastating fire ripped through two 21st Place buildings Wednesday.
Four families are without a home after a fire broke out in a residential building at 2036 W. 21st Place in Pilsen Wednesday afternoon. Eighteen people were displaced by the blaze that spread to two buildings, Chicago Fire Department officials said, but no injuries were reported.
Nitecap Coffee Bar is collecting donations for the Gellegos and Marquez families on Sunday. Donations can be dropped off at the cafe, 1738 W. 18th St., until 6 p.m. Friday.
Donations needed include:
• Women's size large and extra-large clothing; women's shoes sizes 7½ or 8
• Men's size medium clothing; pants size 32/24; men's shoes size 12
• Size 2 clothing for daughter, shoe size 3 (age 1½ years old)
• Sizes 6 and 7 clothing for sons; shoe size 12 (ages 6 and 7 years old)
• Toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair brushes and soap
• Towels, socks, pillows and comforters
• Nonperishable food items
• Gift cards to local grocery stores
Nitecap also collected donations for fire victims who lost everything in a 21st Street fire in April 2015.
To help the families, Anna López, whose father owns one of the buildings, also has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser where neighbors can donate online. As of Friday, $2,600 has been raised toward a $12,000 goal.
López's father had property insurance on the building, but the tenants did not have renter's insurance.
"The apartments are a total loss," she wrote. "The money collected will absolutely go directly to the families and not one cent will be kept by my dad, the property owner. We want to make sure the families are able to [quickly] get back on their feet with your support."
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