Vicksburg Fire Destroys 2 Apartments: Here’s How You Can Help

A recent fire in the Vicksburg area has left 3 people without a place to go. Here's what happened.

On Tuesday, 4/12/22, a fire broke out at 110 W. Washington Street. The building, apparently very old, did have smoke detectors and, thankfully, the tenants inside were able to make it out safely.

Unfortunately, one tenant lost his dog.

While the fire is still under investigation, both parties have now lost everything. After pushing through two of the most challenging years a lot of us have ever faced, losing all of your possessions and the place you call home has to be absolutely devastating.

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So, how can you help?

There are currently a couple of different fundraisers set up to help both tenants affected by the fire.

First:

The Distant Whistle Brewhouse is collecting cash donations for their bartender, Spencer who not only lost his apartment but his dog as well. Speaking with The Distant Whistle, I learned that he's been with the company since 2019. In their Facebook post, which you can see below, they acknowledge that Spencer would probably be annoyed that they were fundraising for him but, they still want to help.

For the remainder of the week, they're hoping to fill a beer pitcher with cash to help Spencer get back on his feet. They don't have a specific goal in mind but, if you'd like to help but either can't make it to The Distant Whistle or don't usually have cash, they are accepting donations through Venmo (@dwbrew) as well.

Since Spencer doesn't have a permanent place of lodging right now, they're not accepting donations like clothing, appliances, and the like. But, they will accept nearby restaurant gift cards. Gift cards can be mailed to The Distant Whistle at 118 S Main St, Vicksburg, MI 49097.

The Distant Whistle Brewhouse serves craft beers and cider produced on site. While they don't serve food, they have an open door food policy that allows you, the customer, to bring in dishes from the surrounded local restaurants. Even if you can't donate right now, you can always snag a beer from Spencer in the future. Generous tips are always a help. You can find more information on The Distant Whistle Brewhouse on their website or Facebook page.

Second:

The other tenant affected by the fire is Autumn, a single mother living in the apartment with her 12-year-old son.

A GoFundMe has been set up in her name with the goal of raising $2,500. That money will go towards a security deposit along with a first/last month payment for a new apartment, which they desperately need. Being a single parent is hard enough. Being a single parent with no place to live is an actual nightmare. If you'd like to contribute, every dollar helps. You can find the GoFundMe here.

The phrase "every dollar helps" gets thrown around a lot when people are doing fundraisers but, it really is true. Even if all you have to give is $1, $5, or $10, it will definitely make an impact. If you're unable to donate any cash, sharing their fundraisers is also a big help.