Downtown community goes above and beyond to help each other.

1/16/20
A message from Carolyn Wheeler
Over the past few weeks, I have had the privilege to work with our members and the community to provide hope to the survivors of the devastating Alpine Motel Apartments fire, the deadliest blaze in city of Las Vegas history. This fire impacted 68 people in our community who lost everything in the fire; their clothes, their home, their memories, and tragically, six people lost their lives.
The mission of the Downtown Vegas Alliance is to create an attractive, vibrant, diverse and sustainable downtown Las Vegas. This is true for our businesses but also true for our community, and so we knew we needed to do whatever we could to help our neighbors.
We quickly acted and started a GoFundMe page to collect funds to meet the immediate needs of those who were displaced. We also established a location to accept item donations from the community such as clothing, toiletries and toys for the nine children who lost their homes right before the holidays. DVA members who answered the call for help include the Mob Museum who agreed to be our item drop-off location, Lyft who offered ride vouchers and volunteers to sort items, Downtown Grand who donated blankets and pillows, and the Hydrant Club that donated items for families with pets. I also want to thank U-Haul, Costco, Home Depot, Max Pawn and Timbers who also pitched in.
Throughout the whole process, we worked with the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada along with Veterans Village, also a DVA member, to make sure that we were able to deliver these items to the survivors in a timely and coordinated manner. A lunch was hosted at Veterans Village where everyone was invited to come together and receive items that were given by the public including nearly $16,000 in gift cards thanks to community donations.
The event became so much more than a vehicle to distribute goods. The Alpine Motel Apartments fire survivors were sent to various housing facilities across the Las Vegas Valley. For many of them, this was the first time they have seen each other since the day after the fire. They came together as a community and shared stories, memories and prayed for those they lost.
This is what the Las Vegas community is all about – coming together to help those who need it, when they need it the most. I am so thankful that the DVA was able to play a role in helping our downtown neighbors during this time of tragedy.
To all of you who played a part by donating money, items or your time, we are grateful for how quick you were to respond to helping our Downtown community. It is impossible to imagine what the Alpine Motel Apartments families are going through, but because of you their road to recovery is possible.
Although the DVA has closed down our GoFundMe campaign, you can still support the victims and help them with long term housing assistance by donating to the city of Las Vegas’s Community Healing Fund through the Nevada Community Foundation. Go to https://www.nevadacf.org/donate-now/ to make your donations.
Read about the DVA’s role in coordinating efforts…
Downtown Vegas Alliance collects donations for victims of Alpine Motel Apartments fire
FOX5 Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) – A valley nonprofit asked for donations to assist victims of the Alpine Motel Apartments fire. The Downtown Vegas Alliance …
Community steps up to help victims of deadly Alpine Motel Apartments fire
KLAS – 8 News Now
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Metro homicide detectives are now investigating the deadly … The Downtown Las Vegas Alliance is collecting donations.
Downtown Vegas Alliance sorts donations for Alpine fire victims
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Downtown Vegas Alliance sorts donations for Alpine fire victims ….. 21 in downtown Las Vegas, the deadliest residential fire in the city’s history.
Las Vegas nonprofit gives donations, nearly $13500 in gift cards to Alpine fire victims
News3LV
The Downtown Vegas Alliance, a local nonprofit, was a big part of the efforts, beginning a GoFundMe campaign and collecting donated items.
Photo: Courtesy of Downtown Vegas Alliance