Relief Fund Supports Wadena Residents Displaced by Fire
The Initiative Foundation has partnered with community leaders to establish the Wadena Fire Recovery Fund following a 12-unit apartment fire on Sunday night that killed one man and displaced nearly a dozen other people.
The fund supports response and recovery efforts and will be used to help fire victims and to fill resource gaps during long-term recovery efforts. Donors can give today to the Wadena Fire Recovery Fund at givemn.org/story/Wadena-Fire-Recovery.
“Right now, we’ve got folks who are displaced,” said Nate Loer, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wadena. “A very rapid evacuation was needed. In terms of material possessions, they’ve lost everything.”
Naomi Plautz, chief of police and emergency management director for the city of Wadena, said the loss of life—including pets—is beyond tragic. “Stuff is stuff,” she said. But for those who survived the fire, “the smallest thing can be the biggest thing. There are vehicle keys that have been left in the building and are now gone. How do you replace your vehicle keys? Your medical supplies? Your wallet and credit cards?”
How do you find an affordable place to live during a housing crunch?
“We’re a small and close-knit community,” said Loer, who, through his church, will help to assemble a community advisory team to oversee distributions from the Wadena Fire Recovery Fund. “From what I’ve seen over the years here is that when people have an extraordinary need, the community has an extraordinary response.”
Firefighters and police were called to the scene near Bryant Avenue and Second Street Southeast, about a block east of the post office, at 10:46 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16. Crews from Wadena and Verndale were on scene all night and into Monday morning fighting the fire. An adjacent apartment building also was evacuated as temperatures dropped to -10 degrees.
Donors are encouraged to direct their donations to the Wadena Fire Recovery Fund rather than well-intentioned but often fraught crowd-funding sites. Unlike crowdfunding sites, gifts to the Initiative Foundation-hosted fund are tax-deductible and supported by a fiduciary responsibility to direct 100 percent of the resources to relief and recovery efforts.
The urgency to act is now, said Amy Gray, community philanthropy manager at the Initiative Foundation. “These people have been displaced from their homes and have nothing left. This will remain in the headlines for a short time, but the recovery for them will be long. We’re committed to standing with the city of Wadena as they support these individuals.”
Since its founding nearly four decades ago, the Initiative Foundation has served as a resource hub for Central Minnesota communities. When the unexpected happens, the Foundation team is activated to help Central Minnesota communities build local coalitions, attract outside resources, and to quickly spin up and promote local giving options to aid in the recovery. The Foundation does not charge administrative fees when it hosts disaster response funds.
“One of our most critical roles is supporting communities during times of crisis and greatest need,” said Brian Voerding, Initiative Foundation president. “Our trusted presence and history of community-based work allows us to move these funds immediately to the resilient folks in Wadena.”
Donations can be made online or via check. Make checks payable to the Initiative Foundation and mail to the Foundation’s secure lockbox address:
Initiative Foundation – 446122
P.O. Box 64182
St Paul, MN 55164-0182.
Please note “Wadena Fire Recovery Fund” in the memo line.
Photo courtesy of Wadena Chamber of Commerce.