Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 22, 2014 Midland Park Donations coming in for New Year’s Day fire victims The Midland Park community has rallied in support of the victims of a New Year’s Day fire that destroyed the four-family dwelling at 351 Godwin Avenue and sent its occupants scrambling for alternate living arrangements. One of the occupants was treated for smoke inhalation and released from the hospital. The Church of God, only a half block away from the fire scene, has set up an emergency relief fund for the displaced families and is accepting donations of cash, checks and gift cards. “We are just the hub for the community relief effort to support the families,” said Pastor Lloyd Vorderstrasse. “Our church treasurer has opened a separate account to hold the contributions until the families need them to get up and running again.” He said donations have been coming in steadily. “I think it is wonderful and typical of the community to be ready to support residents in need,” commented Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan, who was part of an effort to help one of the families move its possessions to a storage facil- ity. “The timeframe was creating additional pressure on the family to conform,” explained the mayor, who said he had also been able to secure a week’s extension of the dead- line. Clothing was also being collected at the DePhillips Center, but Councilman Scott Pruiksma, who has been actively involved in the relief effort. said that need has been met. There was no request for furniture or household goods, he said. While the residents of three of the apartments found shelter with relatives or friends, one couple was put up at a hotel for a week by the Red Cross and has now found tem- porary living quarters in Ridgewood. They are looking for permanent quarters, according to Pruiksma. Persons who would like to contribute are asked to make checks payable to the \”Church of God Disaster Relief Fund” and write in the memo line \”Fire Victims”. Please deliver or mail the check to the church, 400 Godwin Avenue, Mid- land Park 07432. Pastor Lloyd stressed that 100 peercent of the donations will go to those displaced by this fire. Changing of the guard The new officers of the Midland Park Volunteer Fire Department were sworn in during the recent reorganization meeting of the mayor and council. Pictured above, from left: Chief Mark McCombs, Assistant Chief Jason Crean, and Captain Jeff Casson and Lieutenant Steven Rau.