Schools

Help Atwater Elementary Family Devastated in Weekend Fire

Principal Tim Kenney has organized a donation drive for a family who lost almost all their belongings when their Milwaukee home went up in flames over the weekend.

They were able to escape safely, but D’Travia Heard, Dajuan Love and their mother Deanna Gainer lost nearly everything they own when the family's Milwaukee home went up in a blaze over the weekend.

But, another family at Atwater Elementary, which the two children attend, is rallying around them and launching a donation drive to help the family get back on its feet.

Atwater Principal Tim Kenney, who is organizing the drive, said the school is accepting cash donations and other items including gently-used clothing and furniture. The school is also accepting checks made payable to Atwater School. Cash donations will be used to purchase gift cards for the family to purchase replacement items.

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"I would do it for any family that had their house burn down," he said. "I can only imagine the details behind finding a new place to live.

"It takes such a long time to get back on your feet after something like this, and I think we have the capacity in the community to help out a family in need."

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D’Travia, who is a first grade Atwater student, wears size 7/8 girls pants, size 8 tops and size 1 shoes. Dajaun, a junior kindergarten student at Atwater, wears size 6 boys pants, 6/7 tops and size boys 13 shoes.

A "needs list" is available in the Atwater main office. Donations may be dropped off at the main office at Atwater.

Kenney said please call ahead if you plan on donating furniture or clothing to make sure it's still on the needs list. He said while you can never have too many t-shirts, the family would be overwhelmed if 30 winter coats were donated.

"I’ve been in this community for a long time, and I know how (charitable) people are," he said.


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