Monday evening, a fire broke out in an apartment building in downtown Fredonia which was predominantly occupied by SUNY Fredonia students. We are thankful to report that there were no injuries and all residents, including 20 students, have been identified and are immediately receiving care and assistance from various levels of the campus and broader community. However, initial reports suggest that these students' possessions will be considered a total loss due to the extensive smoke or fire damage.
Some of the steps being taken to help our students include:
- All students have been given immediate on-campus housing solutions through the Office of Residence Life.
- Each student has been supplied with several free on-campus meals, courtesy of the Faculty Student Association (FSA), and an emergency Bookstore fund has been established for each student to help with the replacement of books and other supplies.
- Each student's ID card can also be replaced at no charge.
- Wal-mart, under the leadership of store manager Brad Ballentine, has stepped forward with a gift card for each student displaced by the fire.
- The Red Cross is issuing emergency response services, including "comfort kits" which contain items such as personal care products and toiletries. They have also provided gift cards to help with clothing needs.
- The Student Association (SA) has provided gift cards for each student to T.J. Maxx to also help with clothing.
- DFT Technology Plus has offered financial assistance to students who need to replace their computers, and help them salvage any of their contents if possible.
- Campus Life has provided Fredonia State blankets as well as T-shirts for each student.
- The campus' Counseling Center in Lograsso Hall is open and prepared to discuss this situation with any students who wish to contact them.
- All faculty members of the affected students have been contacted to alert them to this situation and request their full cooperation and understanding as these students attempt to make up tests and assignments, obtain class notes, etc. Classroom flexibility has been greatly encouraged and appreciated.
We wish to specifically thank FSA, Wal-mart, SA, and of course the Red Cross for stepping forward at such a critical time to assist these displaced students with their most critical and pressing needs. Internally, our offices of Campus Life, Residence Life and University Police, supported by the Division of Student Affairs, have all played pivotal roles in the immediate review, assessment and response these students so very much needed. Our university and the Greater Fredonia community have shown time and again that we are perhaps at our best when it matters most.
Making a Donation:
If you would like to support these students, you may make a donation online to the Student Emergency Relief Fund or send a check payable to the "Student Emergency Relief Fund," c/o the Fredonia College Foundation, located in the Foundation House, 272 Central Avenue, Fredonia, NY 14063.
In addition, a Facebook group, “Supporting Fredonia Fire Victims,” has been created to help students connect with each other to offer in-kind donations such as clothes, food, personal care products, etc. Please use this tool as your primary means of getting these types of gifts into the hands of the students.
