Merchants and residents alike are coordinating relief efforts after a devastating fire ravaged a building in the Village of Wappinger Falls on Feb. 25, closing businesses and displacing residents for the foreseeable future.

The building, located at 10 Market Street and home to TJ’s Barber Shop and Mario’s Sandwich Company, caught fire when welding work was being completed, as previously reported by Hudson Valley Post.

As a result, 25 adults and four children have been displaced — and the community has sprung into action.

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A GoFundMe page was immediately set up by Wappinger Town Supervisor Dick Thurston, which sits at $11,730 as of Thursday morning – less than 48 hours after fire and smoke overtook the two-story building. The total funds have more than doubled the initial goal of $5,000.

The Facebook group named WappingersRises also jumped into action, posting the shoe and clothing sizes of the 29 now homeless victims of the fire with the opportunity for residents to “Adopt a Neighbor in Need” and donate a pre-determined list of goods, including gift cards and material items. The effort moved so quickly that as of mid-afternoon on Wednesday, Feb. 26, the Facebook group shut down that portion of the fundraiser, stating that all victims had been “adopted” but the community would still accept gift cards and monetary donations.

County Fare restaurant also jumped in with its own effort, putting up the famed "The Quiet Man Pub" sign for auction, with all proceeds going to the relief program.

“Everyone has wanted this sign since County opened,” the business said on its Facebook page. “We are auctioning the old Quiet Man Pub sign. Stop in and drop your offer in the silent auction bucket. Of course the money will be going to the families displaced from the fire.”

County Fare is also hosting a raffle after the St. Paddy’s parade on March 7th with all funds benefiting the same families.

Anyone looking to drop off gift cards or cash donations can do so at Cousin’s Ale Works on Route 9 or Mamma Musetti’s on East Main Street. All donations will be dropped off at Wappinger Town Hall and distributed to the families.

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