Community overwhelmed by donations after large apartment fire in Carpentersville

CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- A huge apartment complex fire in suburban Carpentersville displaces dozens of people.

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Donations were pouring to help those who lost everything.

The last of the displaced residents left the makeshift shelter on Sunday. The rest have, for now, got temporary accommodation either with family or at local hotels.

Volunteers sorted through mountains of clothes and other personal items on Sunday trying to organize the donations that continued to pour into Carpentersville's Public Works Department.

A sign was even placed at the door asking people to direct their donations elsewhere.

"I am trying to help the people who need it. I talked to my god, and he said go to see. Go to see," neighbor Elena Palomo said.

"I got some brand-new coats, and I wanted to give them to these people directly. I don't want them to go to anybody. I want them for these people that lost everything," Brian Gilly said.

Twenty-three families were displaced by the Saturday morning fire that firefighters said started somewhere on the first floor and extended up to the roof.

Now, the entire building is fenced off. Residents are unable to go inside to see if anything can be salvaged.

"The fire department was out there earlier with some residents. Since it's boarded up it's not safe right now. We are not allowing anyone else in there at this time," Carpentersville Village President John Skillman said.

Even as those displaced have now found temporary places to stay, and their immediate emergency needs are being met, officials are calling on residents to redirect their generosity in the form of cash donations.

For those wanting to help the displaced find a new home, village officials recommend making that cash donation directly to the Red Cross and note that the money is to be used for the Carpentersville apartment fire relief.