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University reaches out to help students, employees displaced by apartment fire |
| By
Jim Winkler |
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Jul 9, 2008
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On Saturday, July 5, residents of the Hunters Ridge apartment complex in South Toledo — buildings that many University of Toledo students and employees call home — were forced from their apartments by a fire that destroyed nine buildings and caused between $5 million and $6 million in damage.
Fortunately no one was injured in the blaze, which is still under investigation. It is still not known how many UT students and employees were affected by the fire because the computer with the rental records was destroyed.
It appears many students have found temporary housing at parents’ and friends’ homes and never visited a temporary Red Cross shelter set up to assist residents immediately after the fire. In addition, some Hunters Ridge residents still may not know about the fire because they are out of town.
The situation has caused hardship for the students and employees, many of whom will not be able to return to their apartments. Many students who did not have rental insurance lost their belongings, including laptops, books and notes.
Representatives from offices across the University have met to brainstorm both needs and options for providing services to the displaced students. As a result, UT is taking the following steps to assist students and employees who resided at the complex.
• A new Web site has been launched to provide information on what the University and other agencies are doing to help students and employees. The Web site, which also provides a list of social service agencies that can help, can be found at http://utoledo.edu/utassistance.
• The University is making free housing available to students and employees who were displaced by the fire. Students or employees who have no place to live can stay at International House on Main Campus for the month of July. Students and employees interested in obtaining housing on campus should call the Office of Residence Life at 419.530.2941 or the International House front desk at 419.530.1600.
• The UT Foundation is accepting donations to help students pay for their tuition and books. People can mail their gifts to the UT Foundation, Driscoll Alumni Center, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo, Ohio 43606, and mark UT Student Hunters Ridge Fire Relief Fund on their checks or by making a pledge online by visiting https://utssl.utoledo.edu/utfoundation/gift_srf.asp. Funds that are donated will be distributed to the students.
• Boxes for donations of nonperishable canned goods have been placed in International House, the Crossings, the undergraduate admissions office and Rocket Solutions Central in Rocket Hall on Main Campus and in the Mulford Library Building on the Health Science Campus. Boxes for gently used clothing will be placed in the International House and the Crossings.
• Students who need any academic assistance should call Dr. Penny Poplin Gosetti, interim vice provost for academic innovation, 419.530.2152, in the Office of the Provost.
Several social service agencies and churches are working to meet the needs of the displaced residents.
The Greater Toledo chapter of the American Red Cross is accepting donations to help fire victims. People may visit www.redcrosstoledo.org to make a secure donation online or mail their gift to Greater Toledo Area Chapter, P.O. 595, Toledo, Ohio, 43697 and make Hunters Ridge apartments on the check.
Residents needing assistance to replace birth certificates, identification cards and legal documents can contact St. Vincent De Paul, 1001 Washington St., 419.537.6656.
The Salvation Army can provide limited help with furniture needs. People should call the Social Services office at 419.241.1138 to set up an appointment. Each person is eligible for a $25 merchandise credit at the location. A referral letter from the American Red Cross is required.
In addition, the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1825 Glendale Ave., is sponsoring a garage sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 19. Donations are being accepted through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, July 12, from 8 a.m. to noon.
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