LONDON, ON – Following the Woodman Avenue explosion on August 14, 2019 community partners, volunteers, and residents in Old East Village have been working to support families affected by this event.

In all, over $200,000 was raised and distributed to more than 100 households, some of whom were displaced for lengthy periods of time (a few households remain displaced), others for a few nights. This is a testament to the generosity of Londoners, whose willingness to give at a time of unexpected and intense need has helped Old East Village residents directly impacted by the Woodman Avenue explosion begin the long and often challenging process of rebuilding and recovery.

Old East Village Community Association and LIFE*SPIN, who are overseeing the Woodman Families Fund, was and remains dedicated to ensuring that families’ privacy is respected as they continue to recover from this traumatic event.

The information below provides a summary and timeline of funds distribution:

Initial Distribution

August 2019

Category 1: Short-term financial assistance of $2000 was provided immediately following the incident to the residents who were most severely impacted and displaced from their homes for an extended period of time.

Category 2: Individuals and families who were evacuated from their homes on the evening of August 14 were offered $250 in cash support, to cover the immediate costs associated with the evacuation (replacing food, purchasing goods required in the first 24 hours). Some families donated this support back, desiring it to go to those most in need.

Autumn 2019 Update

The OEVCA distributed$160,000 to the residents most impacted. After meeting with these residents, it was decided through consensus to distribute the funds via a formula which took household composition into account and respected the privacy of each household with regards to their specific needs.

Spring/Summer 2020

We are in the final stage of disbursements of remaining funds to those households most affected using a formula that takes into account household composition. In addition, we received applications for funds from residents that have also suffered damages and loss but were not identified as Category 1 households. These funds have been disbursed.

OEVCA wishes to extend profound gratitude to the remarkable generosity of donors whose outpouring of support and love have helped their fellow Londoners through this difficult time. To all the volunteers and neighbours who have and continue to extend a hand during this recovery process: thank you. Your kindness is a reminder of what community looks like, when put into action. We also wish to extend our gratitude to LIFE*SPIN, Libro Credit Union and the London Community Foundation for lending their support and expertise to our community with this endeavor.

“Recovery is ongoing and individual, but compassion is a universal expression of community,” says Meg Pirie, OEVCA Board member.

On behalf of the Old East Village Community Association and LIFE*SPIN, we wish to extend our gratitude to community members who found ways to give in a variety of denominations and goods; first responders who put others’ safety before their own; and community partners who assisted through insight, expertise and time throughout this disbursement process.

Dear Neighbours,

As you are aware, since Aug. 14^th, your community has come together in a profound way. We’ve seen neighbours supporting one another practically and emotionally as they work to rebuild and move forward, the site has been adorned with wooden hearts as a physical representation of the care and concern neighbours have for one another, and financial donations have been made by individuals and businesses concerned about your well-being.

As you may be aware, so far these donations have been utilized to provide support to those displaced from their homes. We have, however, set aside a portion of these funds for those not displaced beyond the initial evacuation, who have also suffered damages. In order to assist us in distributing these funds we are asking those of you who have suffered damages to provide us with a summary of the costs incurred.

This summary can be provided by completing the following online form at the link. Paper copies of this form are also available for pick up and drop off at Lifespin. (You can also see a copy of the Request directly below this update). Please note the Lifespin office is open from 9:30am-4:30pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and is located at 866 Dundas St. Volunteers at the free store will not be able to receive or distribute forms. Please ensure all requests are received by November 13^th to ensure a timely distribution.

This forms and documentation submitted will be reviewed by a small committee formed by the OEVCA and your personal information will be held in confidence by the members of this committee unless otherwise permitted or required to be disclosed by law (ie. In the case of a tax audit).

Thank you for your patience with us as we have taken on this endeavour. It has been so inspiring to hear the stories of resilience, of community and of kindness that have followed such a tragic incident. You continue to be in our thoughts. Any questions can be directed to woodmanfund@oevca.ca.

Be well,

Your Neighbours

Following the Woodman Avenue explosion on August 14, community partners, volunteers, and residents in Old East Village have been working to support families affected by this event.

Old East Village Community Association, who is overseeing the Woodman Families Fund, is dedicated to ensuring that families’ privacy is respected as they continue to recover from this traumatic event. The information below provides a summary of funds distribution:

Initial Distribution

Families most impacted: Short-term financial assistance of $2000 was provided immediately following the incident to the residents who were most severely impacted and displaced from their homes for an extended period of time.

Other families evacuated: Individuals and families who were evacuated from their homes on the evening of August 14 were offered $250 in cash support, to cover the immediate costs associated with the evacuation (replacing food, purchasing goods required in the first 24 hours). Some families donated this support back, desiring it to go to those most in need.

Update

The OEVCA is currently distributing $160,000 to the residents most impacted. After meeting with these residents, it was decided through consensus to distribute the funds via a formula which took household composition into account and respected the privacy of each household with regards to their specific needs. A small portion of the fund is being held back to assist other residents that have also suffered loss. These funds will be released on an as needed basis and the process for distributing these funds is still being determined. Any remaining funds will be distributed amongst those most affected using the initial distribution formula.

OEVCA wishes to extend profound gratitude to the remarkable generosity of donors whose outpouring of support and love have helped their fellow Londoners through this difficult time. Finally, to all the volunteers who have and continue to extend a hand during this recovery process: thank you. Your kindness is a reminder of what community in action looks like. We also wish to extend our gratitude to Lifespin, Libro Credit Union and the London Community Foundation for lending their support and expertise to our community with this endeavor.

Today, more than 65 families who were evacuated for the evening of August 14, 2019 received support – because of the incredible generosity of Londoners. Cheques for $250, as well as vouchers for donated goods and lists of discounted and donated services, were delivered by hand within the evacuation area. Neighbours also canvassed the affected areas to connect with individuals and families who have not yet been reached.

For those who were evacuated but have not yet received support, please complete this online form to share contact information, so that we can distribute support as quickly as possible.

A process is currently being established where the most affected individuals and families can access more funding over the short, medium, and longer term. This funding will be distributed on a needs basis. More details on this process will be communicated as soon as possible.

Families are actively working with insurers to determine coverage and needs, and this takes time. In the unlikely event that more funds have been donated than are needed by the families most affected, the families together with community organizations will determine how the funds should be used to support other needs and have a positive community impact in Old East Village.

We thank Londoners for their generous support for the families affected by last week’s disaster. Individuals and organizations wishing to give are encouraged to continue to do so through the Woodman Families Fund at Libro. You can contribute to this fund by visiting any London Libro branch, or by donating online to Life*Spin through Canada Helps.

Today, the families most highly impacted by the explosion on Woodman Ave received some special deliveries: care packages from the London community. These packages were delivered by volunteers from the OEV neighbourhood, designated as buddies to support the families over the weeks and months ahead. The care packages included gift bags with letters of support, donated gift cards, and some initial financial support. Each family also received a bin of donated food and goods, based on what the families identified that they need at this time.

In the words of one individual receiving a care package, “I am so overwhelmed, and feel so much support and love. This makes me feel like everything will be okay.”

Thank you to the London community for your remarkable generosity. You made a few families’ days today!

Since the tragic explosion and fire on Woodman Ave that displaced several families one week ago, the support from Londoners has been overwhelming. As individuals, businesses, and organizations, Londoners have been donating cash, goods, and services quickly and generously. We are so proud of our neighbours and fellow Londoners for the support that they continue to show for our community.

The families directly impacted by the explosion, especially those who are still displaced from their homes, need our help now and over the weeks and months to come. They also deserve peace and privacy during this difficult and disruptive time in their lives.

Yesterday, a group of community partners met to coordinate and streamline the process of distributing the donations of cash, goods and services that have come forward. This statement provides an update on this effort.

• Families most impacted: immediate short-term financial assistance of $2000 will be provided this week to the families who have been most severely impacted and remain displaced from their homes. Each family is being supported by a designated neighbour volunteer, who has assembled a package of donated goods and services that meet the family’s immediate needs. This arrangement aims to respect privacy, build relationships, provide a single point of contact for accessing community supports, and ensure families feel supported as the healing process begins. Community organizations are also working together to ensure that the short and longer term housing needs of all families are being met.
• Families evacuated: individuals and families who were evacuated from their homes on the evening of August 14 will be receiving $250 in cash support, to cover the immediate costs associated with the evacuation (replacing food, purchasing goods required in the first 24 hours). These families will also have access to the donated goods. We are asking individuals and families who were evacuated to complete this online formto share contact information, so that we can distribute support as quickly as possible. Door-to-door canvassing in the evacuated area will also be taking place next week in an effort to ensure that no one is missed.

Based on these allocations, approximately $50,000 from the London community is being distributed over the next week. The total amount of funds which have come forward is still being tallied, as funds have been collected in multiple places and across many organizations. A number of fundraisers are still taking place this week, and some funds have been pledged but not yet received. We request that all funds raised be channeled to the Woodman Families Fund account at Libro. Donating through this centralized fund ensures that all donations are tracked, and that we can fully account for how funds which have been so generously provided are put to use.

A process is currently being established where the most affected individuals and families can access more funding over the short, medium, and longer term. This funding will be distributed on a needs basis. More details on this process will be communicated as soon as possible.

Families are actively working with insurers to determine coverage and needs, and this takes time. In the unlikely event that more funds have been donated than are needed by the families most affected, the families together with community organizations will determine how the funds should be used to support other needs and have a positive community impact in Old East Village.

We thank Londoners for their generous support for the families affected by last week’s disaster. Individuals and organizations wishing to give are encouraged to continue to do so through the Woodman Families Fund at Libro. You can contribute to this fund by visiting any London Libro branch, or by donating online to Life*Spin through Canada Helps. Charitable receipts will be issued by Life*Spin.

All immediate needs for donated goods (food, clothing, furniture, etc.) have now been met thanks to the incredible response from the community. No further non-cash donations can be accepted at this time. Individuals wishing to donate goods are encouraged to consider giving to other organizations in the neighbourhood such as Mission Services or Life*Spin, where they can be distributed to others who are also in need.

Thank you to the London community for the remarkable generosity, support and love. If you have any questions, please contact woodmanfund@oevca.ca

Since the tragic explosion and fire on Woodman Ave that displaced several families, the support from Londoners has been overwhelming. Londoners, as individuals, businesses and organizations, have been donating cash, goods and services at an incredible pace. We are so proud of our neighbours and our fellow Londoners for all of the support that they continue to show for our community.

We want to thank everyone who has contributed so far, as well as the people and organizations who have helped to receive and organize the donations. Your outstanding generosity is remarkable and greatly appreciated.

The families directly impacted by the explosion, especially those who are still displaced from their homes, need our help now and over the days and weeks to come. The OEVCA is working closely with multiple community partners to streamline the support for families, aiming to make it as simple as possible for families to access the support they need – while also providing fairness and transparency in how donations are allocated.

Everyone wants to see families receive the support they need as quickly as possible. We are currently in the process of connecting with the families still displaced from their homes in order to provide immediate financial support. As such, the OEVCA is in the process of coordinating those efforts so that short-term and long-term needs are met by those who require it most.

In an effort to make this process as simple as possible for the families, we are asking for the support of OEVers and Londoners to help us coordinate this effort:

• Please direct any donated funds to the Woodman Families Fund at Libro. You can contribute to this fund by visiting any London Libro branch, or by donating online to Life*Spin through Canada Helps. Charitable receipts will be issued by Life*Spin. Donating through this centralized fund ensures that all donations are tracked, and we can fully account for how funds which have been so generously provided are put to use.
• All immediate needs for goods (clothing, furniture, etc.) have been generously met thanks to the incredible response from the community. Individuals wishing to donate goods are encouraged to consider giving to other organizations in the neighbourhood such as Mission Services or Life*Spin, where they can be distributed to others who are also in need.
• We are actively reaching out to families still displaced from their homes to ensure that their immediate needs are met, and to seek input on how the donated funds can be properly distributed to address medium and long term needs. If you would like to provide input, please contact us at woodmanfund@oevca.ca.

We have never been more proud to be a part of the Old East Village community. The outpouring of support over the past six days from across London and beyond has been remarkable and inspiring. Thank you to everyone who has contributed in both big and small ways. We could never hope to properly express the gratitude we are all feeling for the generosity shown to the residents of Old East Village.

As we continue along this difficult path of rebuilding, we will endeavour to communicate all of the progress that is being made, and continue to offer any and all supports at our disposal to those affected by this disaster, until our community is once again made whole.

The outpouring of support following the explosion in Old East Village on August 14, 2019 has been nothing short of remarkable. People and organizations across London (and beyond!) have generously contributed funds, goods and services to support the families affected.

The Old East Village Community Association (OEVCA) together with Life*Spin and Libro Credit Union is accepting financial donations at any London Libro branch. Libro made the first donation of $10,000 (read more here), and many Londoners, businesses and organizations have also contributed. Charitable receipts will be issued by Life*Spin. You can contribute by visiting any London Libro branch, or by donating online to Life*Spin through Canada Helps. Please reference the Woodman Families Fund.

Thank you to everyone who has shown love, care and support for the Woodman families and Old East Village during this difficult time. You remind us what community is all about.