Princeton Regional Education Association (PREA) and Princeton Regional Educational Support Staff Association (PRESSA) are helping families displaced by the fire at Griggs Farm move back in to their renovated homes.
On Dec. 27, 2017, one of the apartment buildings at Griggs Farm community caught fire and tragically took the life of on resident.
The fire also rendered 24 units in the building uninhabitable. Griggs Farm is comprised of affordable housing units.
From January 2017 to April 2018, PREA member, Martha Friend, organized the resources and members of the PREA to help Griggs Farm residents. The effort involved finding new accommodations, moving out, storing belongings and cleaning up the units. She also helped raise well over $2,500 in a general fund for the displaced residents to pay motel fees, storage unit fees, and other incidentals while searching for new temporary accommodations.
Members volunteered their time and the PREA donated $500 to the fund created to support these Princeton residents. Princeton Public School staff helped move many individuals and families into their interim housing while working in conjunction with generous individual donors, Princeton Human Services, and Princeton Community Housing. Additionally, several local businesses donated goods in order to help with the effort including:Lilipies (http://www.lillipies.com), Ace Hardware (http://smithsacehardware.com/smiths-ace-hardware-princeton-nj/), Dunkin Donuts (Princeton Shopping Center), Hoagie Haven (http://www.hoagiehaven.com).
After almost a year and a half, the Griggs Farm units are ready for occupancy and Ms. Friend and the PREA are again organizing donating their time and renting a moving truck to help several individuals and families move back in.
They helped several Griggs Farm residents move back into their homes on Saturday, May 18 and will be helping several more on Friday, May 31.
If you are interested in helping with donations, such as helping to cover the cost of another moving van, please contact Martha Friend at [email protected].