HOPKINTON - As the community struggles to understand
the tragedy, dozens of residents are now organizing efforts to help the
survivors of this week's fatal house explosion.
Within days of Wednesday morning's blast, funds have been established in
the name of Iris and Violet Carey, the two sisters killed in the blast.
Yesterday, town officials began to organize efforts to aid the families
left homeless by the 65 Main St. blast, using Hopkinton High School as a
focal point for their efforts.
The school will accept donations of clothing, toys and furniture from 7
a.m until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, and so far the reaction has been
overwhelming.
"People have been very open," said Theodore Kozak, executive
secretary for the Board of Selectmen. "They've been calling us,
e-mailing us and stopping by. People are asking to volunteer or asking for
lists (of what's needed) for donations."
The fatal blast tore through the four-family home at 1:41 a.m. Wednesday,
leveling the building, which stood just 50 feet from the Hopkinton Fire
Department.
Firefighters were on the scene within moments, pulling residents from the
rubble, including Heath and Tara Carey. The couple's two daughters, Iris, 4,
and Violet, 51/2, were trapped inside.
Though Iris was pulled from the wreckage within minutes, she was in
cardiac arrest. Efforts to revive the little girl failed, and she was
pronounced dead at Milford-Whitinsville Regional Hospital at 3:20 a.m.
Violet's body was removed from the remains of the home at about 6:30.
While many residents are still trying to come to terms with the tragedy,
families who lived in the building are struggling to go on after losing
virtually all they owned.
Several memorial funds have been set up to accept donations for the
families, but other efforts have been organized to help with more immediate
needs, like lost clothing and furniture.
For the first family, officials are asking for donations of size 71/2
shoes, pants size 29x30, large shirts and medium-sized dress shirts.
Other families need girls' clothing, size small and extra-small for tops
and size 2/41/2 for bottoms, large tops for a boy and pants size 32x30.
A third family needs help replacing men's pants size 32x30, large-size
shirts and medium-sized dress shirts, size 14 dresses and large shirts for a
woman, size six clothing and size 12 shoes for a young boy, and clothing for
a newborn boy.
Other donations of furniture and small appliances may also be made.
Two funds have been set up to aid victims of the explosion.
Donations to the Violet and Iris Carey Memorial Fund may be made care of
Fleet Bank, 209 East Main St., Milford.
Another fund, the Hopkinton Flower Fund, has been established at the
Middlesex Savings Bank in Hopkinton, and will benefit all the families.
Though the effort has only just begun, the response has been excellent,
Kozak said.
"It's been wonderful to get that sort of reaction," he said.
"(Residents) are really trying to come together and help these
families. The community is really stepping up to try to help out where they
can."
Anyone interested in volunteering or making a donation can call the
Hopkinton Board of Selectmen, at 508-497-9700, or can get information on the
town's Web site, at www.hopkinton.org.
