After an explosion left a house in Racine decimated, people in the neighborhood are coming together to ensure those who called the place home have more than ruins to return to.
After rescuing a woman from a burning building near Ashland Ave. and Gilson St. on Tuesday, Tyler Lau and his girlfriend, Stacie Kraft, felt there was more work to be done.
“My heart goes out to them,” Lau said of the two people injured in the explosion. “I am deeply sorrowed that they had to experience this type of traumatic event.”
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The couple has partnered with Lutheran Church of the Redeemer nearby to hold a donation drive collecting blankets, toiletries, and other necessities.
Church Pastor Matt James said he was looking for a way to help care for his neighbors and was happy to get involved with the drive.
James also offered the mother and father displaced in the explosion use of the church’s parsonage.
“It sits empty often,” he explained. “We just wanted to make sure we could make that available if they wanted to, especially since it’s right here in their neighborhood.”
Watch: Racine neighbors offer support, place to stay after house explosion
In that Racine neighborhood, community support wasn’t just limited to the family impacted.
When firefighters on shift Tuesday night put in an order for four tacos, La Tapatia owners Lauro and Hermelinda Dabalos wouldn’t take their money, instead giving away 40 tacos for free.
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer on Drexel Ave. will be taking donations for the next couple of days from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Kraft has also set up an Amazon wish list for the father and daughter who are still recovering in the hospital from the explosion.
“It's gonna be a long road, but we'll be there to help them,” Lau said.
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