Two weeks after firefighters put out a five-alarm fire that destroyed Danken’s Auto Supply, Park Slope Christian Help Inc., which is located next door, is struggling to reopen. The services it provides for the community include a transitional home for young mothers, a soup kitchen and a food pantry.

Nine young mothers, who resided in CHIPS Frances Residency Program with their babies, were forced to evacuate when fire broke out on Friday, Sept. 23. They stood out in the rain as firefighters drenched their home to prevent it from catching on fire. Firefighters forced their way through their apartments and chapel to put out the blaze next door.

Sister Mary A. Maloney, S.F.P., president of the Board of Directors of CHIPS, salvaged the Eucharist in the chapel. The firefighters did not even try to stop her as they were desperately trying to contain the growing fire that was feeding on the chemicals stored at the auto supply store.

Gualberto Martinez, warehouse manager for a neighboring business, Bush Wholesale, Inc., came outside and saw the mothers.
“When I came around the corner, I saw them standing outside, confused, with their babies,” he said. “They were scared. They didn’t know what was going on.”

He offered them a place to sit in his warehouse. One of the mother’s was not able to clothe her baby before the fire broke out, so Martinez offered her one of the business’ jackets to wrap her baby in.  The women stayed there for nearly nine hours until the Red Cross arranged for them to spend the following nights at hotels.  As The Tablet goes to print, CHIPS is still working to find a place for the women to be together.

Crystal Smith, coordinator for the Frances Residency Program, said the displaced mothers had to abandon their temporary homes, and lost mattresses, clothes, sheets and other materials that were contaminated by the poisonous gases emitted from the burning auto parts store. Concerned members of the community have already offered their help but the loss is great.  Anyone who wishes to help can call 718-855-8861, Mon.–Thurs., 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., Fri. 8a.m. -2 p.m., or e-mail mssmithfrancesresidence@gmail.com.

Janice Lebby, soup kitchen coordinator, said the kitchen’s need is similar. When the fire started, people from the community were eating a free hot meal at CHIPS.  They had to leave their food behind.

CHIPS lost a couple of thousand dollars in food that day. They had received a fresh delivery and had been fully stocked that morning. The contamination forced CHIPS to throw out all perishable foods, utensils, paper products and other similar items.

Two days later, CHIPS was able to offer their guests bagged lunches of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Volunteers were not able to enter the building because of the “vacate order,” so they distributed the food at the entrance to the building. Sister Mary said this service will continue as long as it is safe to do so.

“Our guests were here and were hungry,” Lebby said. “They still needed a meal. It was an easy thing to set up so they could get a sandwich.”

The soup kitchen coordinator said she was concerned for the guests if CHIPS is forced to close for construction.
“If we are not here to help them, they may not be able to eat,” she said.

The full extent of the damage and loss is still unknown. The clean- up crew provided by CHIPS’ insurance company is in its second week of tearing down walls and ceilings, clearing all contaminated material including beds, linens, and other personal items, and assessing the damage.  They don’t know if the electrical work will be salvageable. Once they are finished, a construction company will work with the insurance company.

Patricia Guavery, volunteer attorney for CHIPS, said there will be many things that will fall through the cracks which the insurance will not pay for. She said she is concerned because, like most volunteer organizations, CHIPS has been facing falling contributions since the economic downturn.

She said her thoughts continue to be the same as they were when she first found out about the fire.

“I really had two thoughts: how soon can we open and how are we going to pay for this,” she said.

Sister Mary said she has not been able to emotionally react to the situation because she is constantly trying to bring CHIPS back to working order.

Churches, schools, synagogues and others in the community have been calling to offer help. The school volunteer programs had to be discontinued because the site is not safe for children.  Any food that comes in has to be given out the same day because of a lack of proper storage space. Other material goods also cannot be stored at this time.

“I really feel that the providence of God will give us the money and the strength to rebuild,” SisterMary said.

She is asking for prayers and any help people can offer. She said she needs items such as fruit for the nearly 200 people who still come for bagged lunches. However the biggest need is for financial contributions.

Anyone wishing to help may call 718-237-2962 or send contributions to Park Slope Christian Help, Inc., 200 Fourth Ave, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11217