Community gathering needed items for 8 families displaced by Wrens apartment fire

In the days following the Pine Valley Apartment fire Tuesday, members of the Jefferson County community have rallied to collect items to support the eight families whose homes were destroyed. 

Wadley Police Chief Tommie Walker, who grew up in Wrens, said that he was moved to organize a clothing drive.  

“We have set up an area in Wrens as well as here in Wadley,” Walker said. “Items can be dropped with Lee Woods on the north end of the county and here at the Wadley Police Department. We’re looking for clothes mainly, things they may need.” 

More:Eight Wrens families without homes after Pine Valley Apartments fire

Clothing items can be dropped at Wadley Police Department at 22 North Main St. in Wadley weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at State Farm Insurance at 101 School St. in Wrens weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

“Being from Wrens this loss really touched home,” Walker said. “And as a police department, our whole objective is to serve and it doesn’t matter if it is in Wadley or in Jefferson County or outside Jefferson County, if we can be of some type of assistance, that’s what we are pushing to do, to help in whatever way we can.” 

The items were scheduled for dispersal to the families on Friday, Oct. 22 at the Rabun Center Community Building adjacent to Wrens City Hall at 2 p.m. 

Walker said that if donations continue to come in after the initial dispersal, they will continue to collect them and get them to the families. 

Clothing sizes needed for the impacted families: 

Adult female: pants in sizes 22/24, 9, 14 medium, 2X, 8, 7/8, 10/12; shirts in sizes 3X, large, XL, 2X, Medium, Small, large; shoes in sizes 12, 9, 8.5, 10, 7, 7. 

Adult male: pants in sizes 36, 30/32, 38/40, 36/38; shirts in sizes XL, Medium, XL; shoes in sizes 9.5/10, 7.5, 12, 10. 

Teenage male: pants in sizes 42/44, 36, 34x32; shirts in sizes 2X, XL, L; shoes in sizes 12/13, 10, 9. 

Teenage daughters: pants in sizes 10, 8, 6/7, 6/7; shirts in sizes M, S, 7, 7; shoes in sizes 8, 9, 2, 3. 

“I know that they are in need of stuff and that’s why we wanted to go ahead and get something out to them as of Friday,” Walker added. “I believe there are a couple of other groups who are trying to do some fundraising. One is selling barbecue plates this weekend.” 

As of Thursday afternoon, $500 had been collected towards a $16,000 goal on a Go Fund Me account organized by a Brenda Chestnut who says the money is being collected for clothing and support of the Pine Valley Apartment B fire. 

Tyreik Carlyle, a candidate for Wrens City Council, has also announced a clothing drive event planned for Saturday, Oct. 23 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Pine Valley Field.