Fundraiser for victims of Gabriel House fire in Fall River raises nearly $45,000, American Red Cross meeting residents

Once again, the residents of the City of Fall River showed up for those in need.

According to the Firefighter Wives Association, 650+ people participated in the fundraiser at the St. John’s Athletic Club Friday night to benefit the displaced residents from the Gabriel House fire.

They were able to raise $44,908. All deposited this morning into the non-profit account.

The organization thanked everyone who volunteered their time, gave donations, made food, and “busted their butts” to ensure the event was successful.

“And most of all, the hero, Christopher Silvia, for all of his hard work and sleepless nights!”

The line to get into the club wrapped around the sidewalk from the parking lot as they could only let so many people in at a time.

Tina Rogers, who attended the fundraiser, described it as an amazing event for an awesome cause.

The whole experience seemed to change the perception of Fall River residents for those who needed any convincing of the generosity and spirit of those who live here.

It appeared that a good time was had by all, which was many.

The American Red Cross also announced Saturday that Red Crossers will be meeting with residents of the Gabriel House starting today to provide financial support, health and mental health referrals, and ensure clients have access to a Red Cross caseworker to support them during this time.

If you were displaced by the fire, please reach out to 1-800-RED-CROSS and their local team will work to schedule time to meet with you.

If you or a loved one needs help coping with the emotional toll, reach out to the free 24/7 multilingual Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.