Community event raises money, support for victims of Five 10 Flats fire

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Community members gathered at Country Club Brewing in Bethlehem Sunday to raise money for victims of the May 2 apartment fire at Five10Flats. 

A few dozen people attended. The event featured pop-ups from local organizations and businesses including Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley, Lehigh University, El Jefe’s Taqueria and the American Red Cross.

The event was organized by Derek Wallen, a local business owner and director of Neighbors in Need. Wallen said he wanted to create a localized effort to support displaced residents.

“I said, OK, let’s organize an event in like a week and a half,” Wallen said. “And this is what it became. I just have an awesome network of people, our community, Bethlehem, is an amazing community. And so many people wanted to help out with donations, setting up vendors, helping get people out volunteering and make this successful.”

Vendors at the event were not charged any vending fees, but were asked to give 10% of their sales to Neighbors in Need. Vendors who weren’t selling anything were asked to make a nominal donation to set up a table. There was also a raffle and silent auction where 100% of the proceeds went to the relief fund.

“We want to make sure no one is left out and forgotten,” Wallen said. 

Peter Brown, executive director of Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter of the Red Cross, said the Red Cross has opened more than 40 cases to provide financial assistance and support to displaced individuals and families. Brown said he wanted to raise awareness. 

“This is truly a community-driven effort and it’s something else that’s going to help all these people recover,” he said. 

Tom Carson, a Neighbors in Need committee member, echoed the importance of the event.

“It’s a great way to support the people who are displaced,” Carson said. “What people don’t realize and what I realize because I’ve been working in the homeless field for the last 10 years is a lot of people become homeless because of tragic events. So to be able to jump in and help them out wherever needed, it’s just a blessing. It’s close to home.”

Wallen encouraged displaced residents and affected business owners to fill out a Neighbors in Need form and be connected to the Red Cross. He said the Red Cross has only heard from a limited number of affected individuals, but he’s “hoping to get that to 100%.”

Three casework volunteers were on-site to assist any individuals who were affected and provide resources. Brown said the Red Cross provides a “base level of financial assistance” to be used at the victim’s discretion to meet their short-term needs.

“This is the most units we’ve had involved at one time in a fire in the 27 years I’ve been here as a staff member and prior to that as a volunteer,” Brown said. “So, this was a very large fire. I would ask for anyone who was impacted by the fire who might hear this story or read this story, if you haven’t already talked to the Red Cross, please give us a call.”

The Pennsylvania Rivers Red Cross chapter number is (610) 865-4400.