Hundreds of volunteers came out to the Grace Donation Station on Scribner Street in Grapevine on Saturday to help clean-up after a devastating fire damaged or destroyed 50 percent of their donated items on Thursday.
A person was recorded on video breaking in and setting the donation container on fire. The fire also destroyed an air condition unit and damaged surrounding buildings.
Volunteers of all ages came out to help.
"We had anticipated a two-day effort and asked people to come out all day Saturday and Sunday, but as you can see by looking around in about five hours we had close to 125 volunteers show up and they worked hard,” said Grace Executive Director Shonda Schaefer.
Schaefer said even though they were able to get everything cleaned up quickly it will be awhile before they can replenish their donations. They do not have the infrastructure to accept donations know, but hope to reopen the station by the middle of next week.
She is grateful to all of the volunteers who came out to help.
Home Depot in Southlake sent a team of volunteers to help on Saturday.
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“The work that they do, helping those in need in terms of the donation center, plus the after school, it’s just an important part of the community we like to be associated with,” said Home Depot volunteer Scott Parizo.
Volunteers were able to pile of all the damaged and destroyed donations in a pile. A large dumpster will be brought in Sunday to haul it all away.
Schaefer estimates the donations destroyed could have brought in $50,000 to $70,000 to the station.
“Just keep praying for us, and quite frankly pray for the gentleman who was responsible for this,” added Schaefer.
If you would like to help Grace, monetary donations are always welcomed.
