How to help victims of fire in Red Hook
Mark De La Vega, owner of DLB Designs, said his business likely has water and smoke damage, but he has yet to see the extent of the damage as no one has been allowed back in the warehouse as the stability is still being inspected.
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Artists and business owners impacted by the massive Red Hook fire last week are seeing a flood of donations from the community.
Mark De La Vega, owner of DLV Designs, said his business likely has water and smoke damage, but he has yet to see the extent of the damage as no one has been allowed back in the warehouse as the stability is still being inspected.
"We just deal with it one day at a time," he said.
De La Vega is already getting back to work, moving part of his furniture making business to the next-door building.
"We have enough work to keep us busy for the most of the rest of the year," he said. "We are still in business, and we are going to be just a couple weeks late at the worst."
He is among the impacted business owners and artists who have seen GofundMe's take off with donations.
"The community has been amazing, and everyone has been opening their doors," said De La Vega. "Thank you to Red Hook, to Brooklyn and New York City."
Organizations, including the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC) and the Red Hook Business Alliance have helped coordinate donations to help people stay afloat.
Donations have reached more than $200,000.
"The fact that we've gotten this GoFundMe responses has been encouraging and heartwarming," said Sandra Forest, vice president of BWAC.
