Community rallies to support those affected by Lakefield fire
By Stacey Sullivan
The Lakefield community is coming together to support those displaced by a structure fire in the Village.
On Thursday, October 9, a fire broke out at the Home Hardware building in Lakefield. Five apartments located above the hardware store were lost, resulting in several local families being displaced.
The following day, with firefighters still attending to the blaze, many grassroots fundraisers began to emerge.
Danika Peet, a Home Hardware employee, launched an online GoFundMe fundraiser to support those who lost their homes. The 18-year-old says she has worked at Home Hardware for roughly three years and started the fundraiser to raise awareness that not just the store was affected by the fire.
“Watching my home away from home, as well as my coworkers lose not only a job but, for some like Adam, lose their home as well, made me want to do anything I could to help,” Peet said in an email to Discover Lakefield. “I set up a GoFundMe to try and get the word out that it’s not just the Home Hardware affected by this devastation, but also familiar faces we’ve all seen in Lakefield who live in the apartments above.”
“Watching my home away from home, as well as my coworkers lose not only a job but, for some like Adam, lose their home as well, made me want to do anything I could to help.”
At the time of writing, the GoFundMe has received 47 donations and raised $4,835 of its $7,500 goal.
Peet says donations from the fundraiser will be split among the residents of each apartment to help purchase needed essentials.
The fundraiser launched by Danika Peet can be found here: https://gofund.me/62777e41e
In addition to the online fundraiser, a number of local businesses have launched campaigns to assist those displaced by the fire:
Clothing, Cash & Gift Card Donations
Century 21 in Lakefield is accepting donations of men’s and women’s clothing, cash, and gift cards. Donations can be dropped off at 15 Queen Street on Sunday, October 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Monday, October 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please call 705-313-4099.
Updated List of Items Needed as of Monday, October 13:
For a 14-year-old boy:
Clothing: men’s small, athletic wear, sports team sweatshirts
Steel-toe boots or shoes (needed for shop class), size 8.5 men’s
Winter boots, size 8.5 men’s
Other items of interest: hockey cards, fishing gear
For a petite young woman:
Clothing: size 0
Shoes/boots: size 5.5-6
Century 21 in Lakefield is accepting donations of men’s and women’s clothing, cash, and gift cards. (Photo: Discover Lakefield)
Pay it Forward Initiative
The Nutty Bean Café has launched a Pay It Forward campaign, joined by several other local businesses. The Lakefield Pantry, Canoe & Paddle, and The Loon are also participating in the initiative, where gift cards can be purchased for those in need.
“We are raising funds to provide gift cards to those affected so they can enjoy a hot meal at no cost - all thanks to the generosity of our community,” a statement posted on The Loon’s Instagram account read.
For more information on the Pay It Forward initiative, please contact participating businesses directly.
Community Yoga Fundraiser
Strawflower Wellness is hosting a community yoga fundraiser on Monday, October 13 at 10 a.m. in Isabel Morris Park, 20 Concession Street. Admission to the gentle-flow yoga class, is “pay what you can” with proceeds supporting the families effected by the fire.
Farmers’ Market Fundraiser
Jen’s Home Baking, owned by Jennie Mackenzie (formerly of The Lakefield Pantry), announced in a Facebook post that proceeds from their market stall at the Lakefield Farmers’ Market on Thursday, October 16, will be donated to support those affected by the fire. The market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. behind the Lakefield Arena.
If you are aware of additional fundraisers or initiatives to support those affected by the fire, please email hello@discoverlakefield.ca.
This story is developing, and more information will be added as it becomes available.