Community members are rallying around a Norridge family that lost its home in a fire.
To help the family get back on their feet, Leigh School Principal Jennifer Ban said local parents are collecting items such as clothing, toiletries, school supplies games and non-perishable food.
Because using the school as a drop-off point for donations would strain security, the village of Norridge stepped in to fill the void.
The Estelle Sieb Community Center, at 7774 W. Irving Park Road, will be open and collecting donations from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Friday, Jan. 30.
The center already has emptied the first set of three collection barrels in the center and moved the items to a storage facility.
“We got clothing, games, food,” said David Kasper, village custodian. “And we’ve only been doing this a couple of days.”
“We’re just trying to help the family out,” added Mike Fanelli, village custodial supervisor.
The family’s two-story home at 7511 Gunnison St. was engulfed in flames early the morning of Jan. 7. By the time firefighters rescued the eight occupants and brought the fire under control, the home was but a shell.
For safety reasons, a demolition crew knocked down the remnants of the home within hours. Any contents not burned in the fire were buried following the demolition.
As for donations for the family, Fanelli noted all would find worthy homes.
“Whatever the family doesn’t need, we will pack up for the Salvation Army,” Fanelli said.