ABILENE, Texas — The Abilene community is stepping up to help 65 people left homeless after police said a man intentionally set fire to his girlfriend’s apartment, burning down the complex.
The fire happened early Sunday morning at the Briarwood Apartments.
Fifty eight of the 65 victims have been staying at MCM Elegante Suites.
One of those people is Coy Angley, a 63-year-old Marine Corps veteran who lost five of his dogs in the fire.
“It’s hard coping with all of this,” said Angley.
The American Red Cross is providing temporary shelter, resources for clothing and food vouchers.
The most difficult task will be finding the fire victims permanent housing.
“We case manage and we work with different apartment complexes in the city to try and find them another permanent place,” said Robyn Flores, Executive Director of the Abilene Red Cross.
The Christian Service Center has been overwhelmed with cash and clothing donations for the fire victims.
“Today we’ve been buried in emails, phone calls, people coming by and brining in donations,” said Christian Service Center Director Jim Clark.
Several Abilene businesses are collecting items and dropping them off at Express Emergency Room on Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene.
“It just makes me think how lucky we are and you always want to be able to help other people,” said Misty Colmery, a nurse at Express Emergency Room.
Laundry Love on N. 1st Street is offering free laundromat services to the fire victims.
If you want to donate, contact the Christian Service Center on N. 10th street. They are no longer accepting clothing donations, for now, but could use things like furniture and other household items.
You can also call Colmery at 325-518-2567.
