SILVER SPRING, Md. — After an explosion at the Friendly Garden Apartments in Silver Spring Thursday afternoon, dozens of residents are suddenly living without homes and without any of their belongings.
County Executive Marc Elrich told reporters that the Friendly Garden Apartments is one of the affordable housing options in Montgomery County, so he feels especially responsible for helping the displaced residents.
“We know there is an absolute shortage of affordable housing to start with,” Elrich said.
He said he's committed to helping the residents for as long as it takes.
In the meantime, members of the community are also eager to help residents who are displaced.
One of the community partners helping displaced residents is the group, A Wider Circle.
It’s a social service non-profit and it’s collecting household goods, kitchen items, linens and lamps but the two items they really need are dressers and couches. And while every donation is appreciated and new is preferred, they’ll take gently used items.
A Wider Circle has set up a Friendly Garden Apartment Amazon Wish List and they’re collecting cash with 100% of the donations going directly to those displaced by the explosion.
On Thursday, the WUSA9 team volunteered to help the local non-profit A Wider Circle in Silver Spring. They unloaded boxes, assembled dressers and helped clean and bundled dishes.
Emmy Tourrellas is their Chief Development Officer. She said, “We along with a lot of partner agencies and, and organizations in the region, made sure that from the moment this happened that we could rally together. So truly within about an hour of this this horrifying event, we were on the phone trying to coordinate to figure out how we could help with the immediate needs and the long term needs as everyone rebuilds."
Part of rebuilding is helping displaced residents with immediate needs so A Wider Circle has set up an Amazon Wish list and they’re collecting cash donations with 100% of those funds going to those impacted by the explosion. So far, our generous community has already donated nearly $26,000 dollars.
Richard Dyer is WUSA9's President and General Manger. He presented a check for $5,000 to a Wider Circle to help make an impact and lift up this local non-profit.
Dyer said, “We got an opportunity to do this with organization like a Wider Circle because they're already been doing the work. They're already widening the circle of compassion so that folks can recover and move on after devastating things like the fire last week. So we're just happy to be a part of that because it's a part of our mission. It's a part of who we are.”
Amy Javaid is A Wider Circle's President and CEO. She said, “We call all of the items that we receive although they are gently used in dignity conditions, meaning something that you're comfortable giving to your best friend or your next door neighbor. And those are the kinds of things that we collect, we call we cull, and we make sure are really ready for our show room.”
"This this type of action is not something we can do alone. It takes all of our community members, it takes those stepping up, it takes our partners, our government officials that we're working with lots of other nonprofit organizations. We want to be here in all of those moments big and small when the need arises," she said.
Montgomery Housing Partners is also accepting cash donations, 100% of which would be used to provide relief to families as they move forward.
According to MHP, more than $495,000 has been donated to help affected families.
Donations can be made on MHP's website, which can be found here.
"Funds are needed for transportation, clothing, supplies for children, and other essentials. 100% of the donated funds will go to the families impacted by the fire," MHP said.
Montgomery County Public Schools are also working to ensure any MCPS student or family impacted is taken care of.
"All of us at Montgomery County Public Schools are deeply concerned about the welfare and well-being of the families affected by the Thursday morning apartment building explosion in Silver Spring," the school district wrote in an email statement. "Housing, food and mental health counseling will be available to affected families this evening and in the coming days."
MCPS pointed anyone who wished to make a donation towards the MHP website, as well.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said residents who live in the buildings were contacted and accounted for. He did not provide a specific number.
According to Goldstein, 14 people were hospitalized, three of whom have critical injuries. The apartment complex consists of six buildings, one of which is completely wrecked, three which have been deemed unsafe, and two that are still standing.
Those who are displaced are currently at the Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center, which is serving as a reunification center. Council President Gabe Albornoz said trauma workers will assist those who are there — as well as residents who were at work during the tragedy and will go there later in the evening.
Albornoz said the county is committed to doing everything it can to help the residents affected by the tragedy.
Montgomery County sent out an alert announcing White Oak Recreation Center will be closed until further notice because it will serve as an emergency shelter. Residents who are displaced will be staying at the recreation center for the time being.
RELATED: Dozens rescued, about 50 displaced after 2-alarm fire at Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring
Dr. Raymond Crowel, director of Montgomery County Health and Human Services, reiterated the importance of sending cash donations to MHP.
"We are asking folks not to make physical donations," he said.
Physical donations can become inconvenient for residents who do not have a permanent home.
