Locals honored for helping fire victims

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and members of the Board of Supervisors Friday recognized the contributions made by a handful of individuals and businesses that helped out fellow community members after three major fires broke in late January.

Lee said the displacement has garnered an outpouring of support from the community. The three major fires claimed the life of one man, injured others and left roughly 100 people homeless.

The three separate fires, which occurred on Jan. 28 in the Mission District, on Jan. 29 in the Tenderloin and Jan. 31 near Alamo Square Park, caused more than $11.5 million in estimated damage, according to San Francisco fire spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge.

Lee recognized local businesses such as Tartine Bakery and Bi-Rite Market, among others, that worked with the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army to supply displaced persons with hot meals, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Lee also expressed his appreciation to landlords and hotels that offered to house the residents displaced by the fires.

The three separate fires, which occurred on Jan. 28 in the Mission District, on Jan. 29 in the Tenderloin and Jan. 31 near Alamo Square Park, caused more than $11.5 million in estimated damage, according to San Francisco fire spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge.

Bi-Rite Market’s community programs manager, Shakirah Simley, 29, was among those honored at the ceremony in the mayor’s office today. She said that she was just glad that Bi-Rite could help out by doing what they do best, serving quality food.

Simley said Bi-Rite organized with about a dozen San Francisco companies to get over 1,200 meals to those displaced in the weeks after the fires. She said Bi-Rite also donated roughly $6,000 worth of pantry items and fresh fruits and vegetables to the fire victims.

Simley said that Bi-Rite has been a part of the San Francisco community for 75 years and was happy to offer meals to its neighbors during their time of need.

A special thanks was extended by the mayor to Zack Crockett, a San Francisco resident who witnessed the Mission District fire and started an online fundraiser at gofundme.com. The fundraiser garnered more than $165,600 for the displaced residents, as of March 2.

Lee as well as Supervisor Scott Wiener and Board of Supervisors President London Breed, presented pins to those who exhibited exceptional generosity of their time, money or talent to help out victims of the fires. Breed said she was impressed by the outpouring of support and said she was happy to see that “so many neighbors stepped up to the plate.”

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