Neighbor stories

Community Rallies for Neighbors After Raging Fire Destroys Multi-Tenant Home

Written by ndmulti

A few weeks ago, we were contacted by a Nextdoor member, Erin Lubien, about a large fire that consumed a multi-tenant home in her neighborhood outside of Boston. The fire displaced nine residents, destroyed multiple vehicles, and damaged homes on either side of the building. Thankfully, no one was injured. The neighborhood immediately rallied around the nine tenants to help begin their recovery process.

We are inspired and proud to hear that their main tool for organizing help for the families was Nextdoor.

According to Erin, who is the chair of the Belmont Corner Neighborhood Association, Nextdoor has changed the neighborhood’s perception of community.

“I used Nextdoor the night of the fire to send out urgent alerts,” says Erin, who is one of the Leads of Nextdoor Belmont Corner. “I told my neighbors that anyone who needed to spend the night at my home were welcome to do so. That was just the start of how we’ve used Nextdoor to help our neighbors get back on their feet.”

Within just one week, Belmont Corner used Nextdoor to organize and coordinate a fundraising campaign, quickly raising over $6,000 for five of the misplaced tenants. At the same time, neighbors planned a neighborhood-wide yard sale, with all proceeds donated directly into the fund. The misplaced tenants were invited to come and shop the neighborhood-wide sale to replace the items they had lost– for free. All told, the neighborhood raised over $12,000 for their neighbors.

“There are so many beautiful stories of how our community came together with the help of Nextdoor to support these five men and women,” says Erin. “It really showcases the amazing generosity of our neighbors and how much we care for our truly unique neighborhood.”

Donations to the Belmont Corner fund can be made payable to the “58 Marlboro St Belmont Fire Fund” and mailed or brought to:

ATTN: Lillian Ayala
Belmont Savings Bank
2 Leonard Street
Belmont, MA 02478

As reported by ABC Boston, the Boston Globe, and the BelmontonianBelmont Corner fire photo courtesy of photojournalist Rick Nohl.

Have your own story about how you’ve used Nextdoor? Tell us about it.

 

4 Comments

  • I sent out a copy of this blog to my neighbors on Nextdoor. Thanks for keeping us aware of how communities communicate during urgent times.

    Carol Carlson, San Marco Nextdoor in Boynton Beach FL

    • Temecula has about the same set up. I noticed TT keeps neighbors advised about anything going on – good, bad, or indifferent. I love to click on TT to read the various comments about people asking for help or offering assistance. We are quite elderly and not much for being out after dark, but feel safer knowing the eyes and ears of folks around us are alert. We pay attention to the warnings and we pay attention to the amenities mentioned in your blogs. Thanks for being such great, caring neighbors.

  • Our neighborhood will have a block party next month and I really wish to promote Nextdoor. How may we obtain one of the green banners to hang?

Leave a Comment

Pin It on Pinterest

Shares
Share This
Theme is edited