Peabody fire victims receive donation

PEABODY – Several local banks and credit unions put competition behind them and compassion forward with a $6,110 donation to the residents who lost their homes and possessions during the devastating fire at the Highlands at Dearborn Apartments last May.North Shore Bank President Dave LaFlamme spearheaded the rally just moments after hearing of the fire.”Being a bank headquartered here in Peabody naturally caused us to be concerned for the lives of so many people,” he said. “But we wanted to try to help in a way that was greater than what we could do alone. After talking with others at the bank, we thought we’d try and put competition aside to make something good happen. What we found was a group of business people eager to help.”With the joint efforts of the North Shore Bank, Beverly National Bank, Community Credit Union, East Boston Savings Bank and Beverly Cooperative Bank, residents will be able to access money from the Dearborn Apartments Fire Victims Fund to help them with life needs and essentials. How exactly the funds will be distributed has yet to be determined.Over 40 people were left without homes as 28 units in Building 8 toppled to the ground, leaving not much more than a pile of unsalvageable burnt remains.Mayor Michael Bonfanti credited the Peabody Fire Department and local agencies for doing their best to protect the lives of those involved.”Some of these residents lost everything – everything,” he said, noting clothing, furniture, bedding, etc. “Time goes by and the general public moves on, but these people will be attempting to recover for a long time.”A representative from Simpson Property Group, which manages the complex, said the “extraordinary outpouring of support” was “very impressive.”The representative also said that the complex is back to normal business operations. The company is currently in the design stages of reconstructing Building 8 and plans for a fall groundbreaking. The units are expected to be available for occupancy by summer 2009.Peabody Chief of Staff Sean Fitzgerald said that although many residents have already found housing elsewhere, the city will continue to monitor their progress for years to come.”We want to make sure they’re all doing OK,” he said.