Thanks to the overwhelming response,  Medina resident Ashley Gazzo has discontinued her drive to collect clothing donations at the United Church of Christ, Congregational, on behalf of the Medina Village Apartments fire victims.

“After the outpouring of donations in this amazing community, we are no longer going to accept donations at the UCC. We are asking for gift cards and monetary donations, which can be dropped off at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Medina. If and when we may need any more donations, I will post again (on social media),” Ashley says. “And a special thanks to the volunteers who came out and donated their time and energy to the great feat we accomplished! Thank you, everyone.”

Medina residents and businesses have responded with incredible generosity to help the 16 adults and 2 teens who lost everything in Thursday’s explosion and fire that killed one and critically injured two others. Bag after bag of clothing, shoes, toiletries, gift cards and other items were dropped off Friday, Feb. 10, at the United Church of Christ, where volunteers sorted them. One local business owner dropped off $1,000 in gift cards for the families. Two Men and a Truck in Brunswick donated its services and delivered more than 150 boxes and bags of items Friday afternoon to the Medina Village apartments, where donations filled a vacant apartment reserved for showing prospective tenants. The apartment managers will oversee distribution of the items to the families impacted by the tragic fire.

Financial contributions may be made to the Medina Village Fire Victims Fund that Ashley established at FirstMerit bank. Contributions may be made at any FirstMerit location in Northeast Ohio. Gift cards and checks made out to St. Vincent de Paul Society may be delivered c/o St. Francis Xavier Parish, 606 E. Washington St., Medina, OH, 44256. Please include a notation that donations are for the Medina Village fire victims.

As of Saturday morning, the fund at FirstMerit totaled $2,600.

Several local businesses are planning fundraisers to benefit the victims:

• Little Caesar’s, 1174 N. Court St., Medina, will donate 100 percent of its profits from pizza sales on Monday, Feb. 13, to those displaced by the fire. The fundraiser will run during store hours, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• The Royal Order of the Moose, 136 S. Elmwood Ave., Medina, will hold a fundraiser Feb. 25 from 6 p.m. to midnight. There will be a $20 charge at the door. The program will include live music, a cash bar, door prizes, a 50/50 drawing and food. All proceeds will benefit the fire victims. For information, call Nick Veverka at 330-321-2791 or the lodge at 330-725-7510.

Ashley was able to give a woman displaced by the fire a few gift cards. “She was very gracious and thanked me,” she says. “I think she was probably a little overwhelmed.”

Victims of the fire, including family members of the deceased man, are encouraged to contact the St. Vincent de Paul Society (330-764-8952), at St. Francis Xavier Parish, which will be working with Ashley to interview victims to disburse funds.

Ashley says she is amazed by the rapid and generous response of the community to help those in need.

“It all started with a Facebook post,” she says. “It blows my mind.”