Crime & Safety
How to Help The Family From Tuesday's Devastating Fire
A mom, dad, grandmother, and toddler lost virtually everything in a devastating fire Tuesday. Here's how you can help them get back on their feet.
The house fire that drew firefighters from Malvern, Paoli, Berwyn, East Whiteland and as far away as Radnor, Valley Forge and West Chester left a Malvern family with little more than the clothes on their backs as they escaped the 7:30 a.m. blaze.
Fortunately all four members of the family who were inside at the time escaped with their lives. (Sadly several pets perished in the blaze). Â In the hours since the fire were extinguished and the burned-out building boarded up literally hundreds of inquiries and questions about how to help the Duffy family have poured in to Patch, the family's friends and T&E Care.
Here is what we know as of Wednesday afternoon about how and when and where to help:
Gift Cards/Cash/Checks/Diaper & Wipes Drop-Off Location Will be Open Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
There will be a donation collection drive on Friday at Homecooked in Paoli. Â
Please note: This is to collect diapers/diaper wipes for the family's two-and-a-half year old girl (size 4) and cash, checks, and retail gift cards only.
It is very important to note that only diapers (and wipes), gift cards, cash or checks can be accepted at Homecooked in Paoli on Friday.  The reason for the limited donations list on that day is that the family is still working on finding a new place to live and there simply is no place for them to store any other donations.
Gift cards, and cash that can help them purchase necessities as needed and get into a new home are the most pressing and immediate need.
There will be more information coming on where to take other donations like furniture and housewares in a relatively short time.  For now please do not bring donations of clothes, furniture housewares or other material items to Homecooked on Friday.
Homecooked is in the Paoli Village Shoppes on Lancaster Ave. directly across the street from Paoli Train Station. Â The address for GPS purposes is 1 Paoli Palza, Paoli PA 19301. Â
Homecooked Owner Claire Phillips Guarino and her wonderful team immediately said yes when Patch asked if their home-cooked meals ready-to-go shop could be used as a donation point.
Direct Cash or Check Donations
Can also be made in person or by mail at 'Duffy Family Relief Fund'
You may drop off a donation to any teller at either branch of the National Bank of Malvern or mail to: National Bank of Malvern, PO Box 38, Malvern PA 19355. Please make your check payable to 'Duffy Family Relief Fund.' Do not send cash through the mail.
Editor's Note: Also please note the name of the bank as there are several other local and area banks whose names also include the word "Malvern"
Larger Material Items that will be needed in the near future (but again, please do not bring these to Homecooked on Friday)
Family friends jumped right in to help in the hours after the fire Tuesday.  A list of needed items and a sign up has been posted here on a new Duffy Family Relief website to avoid overwhelming the family with generous, but duplicate, donations.
T&E Care is also helping the family with immediate needs.
The wonderful, all-volunteer non-profit organization is working with the family to help find a new home and provide some of the immediate needs like a gift card so they could go buy a change of clothes after the fire. Â T&E Care will also be posting information about how to help the Duffy family as needs arise. T&E Care is a non-profit organization. Â More information about T&ECare can be found here on their website.T&E Care has several other needs at this time of year. Learn how you can help local families facing unexpected crisis or urgent needs on the the T&ECare website.
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