Greater Clevelanders can help the dozens of people who lost their homes on Monday in an explosion and fire at the Rainbow Terrace Apartments in Cleveland’s Garden Valley neighborhood — and many already are.
Danny Solomon, better known as Coach Boom of the Garden Valley Falcons, was at Rainbow Terrace until 12:30 a.m. Monday after seeing posts about the fire on social media. There are 120 children in the Falcons’ football and cheerleading program with a good portion living in Rainbow Terrace.
“I wanted to be here to offer help and comfort,” he said. He was back by 9 a.m. the next day. A couple hundred people came to the apartments’ learning center, he said.
His sister LaToya cooked hotdogs and trays of spaghetti with marinara and alfredo sauce. Coach brought water, pop and juice.
Sonya Shepherd, also with the Falcons, said: “We’ve just got to be here to give back. Our hearts are still here.”
They weren’t the only ones. Also helping out at the apartments were Cleveland Peacemakers, CMHA, Catholic Charities, Red Cross, Hers Foundation, The Centers, the City of Cleveland, Murtis Taylor Human Services System, University Hospitals and Cuyahoga County Department of Job and Family Services, said Veronica Pointer, the apartments’ residents services coordinator.
And “a lot is [coming] from the community,” with residents donating food so anyone could stop by and grab something to eat, added Jessica Schindler, the Rainbow Terrace property manager.
Said Council Member Richard Starr: “Instances like this are when Cleveland truly steps up and shows its heart. Our community’s resilience and compassion are our greatest strengths, and these families need your support now more than ever.”
Where to donate
The explosion displaced 42 residents, Starr said. As of Tuesday morning, 12 of the displaced residents had been resettled in Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority facilities. (Rainbow Terrace is not a CMHA property, but residents use Section 8.)
The Rainbow Terrace Learning Center, 7310 Carson Ave., is continuing to accept donations. Burton, Bell, Carr Development Inc., which is nearby in the plaza at 7201 Kinsman Rd., is also accepting donations of water, non-perishable food, clothing, shoes, diapers and hygiene products.
Burton, Bell, Carr and WOVU are also accepting cash donations online at this link.
The learning center’s former director of social services, Bridgette Smith-Jackson, can match up anyone who wants to “adopt” a family affected by the fire. Volunteers can help with donations of items and/or money as people “journey to rebuild after this tragedy,” Smith-Jackson said. To adopt, visit this form and skip to question 10 to leave your contact information. As families settle into new housing, they most need comforter sets, shower curtains, pots and utensils, she said.
To donate to the Red Cross, which is also helping the displaced families at a temporary shelter at Zelma Watson George Recreation Center, visit redcross.org/donate.
Three adults and two children were hospitalized after the explosion, which happened around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, according to WKYC. More than 60 firefighters battled the blaze through the night and into Tuesday morning. The cause has not been determined.
Cleveland Division of Fire’s Engine 41 crew saved a woman who was trapped in the blaze through a third-floor window, according to a social media post from the division. Firefighters also saved four turtles, two cats, a dog and a lizard, with assistance from Cleveland Animal Care & Control.
