LAWRENCE, Mass. - An Emergency Recourse Center assisted more than 60 people who were affected by a fire on Lowell St., in Lawrence August 12. The five-alarm fire affected four buildings in Lawrence, sending people out into the streets Tuesday night.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency coordinated the efforts at the Lawrence Senior Center. Local, state and non-profit organizations filled the event room, offering services to residents who lost their processions and important documents in the fire.

Our Northeast Massachusetts Chapter’s staff and volunteers were joined our partner Entre Amigos, a local organization focused on sharing information about community, taxes, politics, and more. Entre Amigos members assisted displaced residents with translation services as they moved through the various booths at the Resource Center.

More than a dozen Red Cross volunteers from the Northeast and Greater Boston Chapters helped with logistics, initial case work for affected residents and also assisted with serving dinner.

The Salvation Army of Massachusetts provided dinner, water and snacks to affected residents, as well as Resource Center staff and volunteers.

“Our goal today is to continue the care and assistance for the group of people affected by last week’s devastating fire,” said Kyle McWilliams-Lopez, executive director of the Red Cross Northeast Massachusetts Chapter. “It’s a great feeling to see so many people and organizations come together with a single focus – to help those affected by disaster. And I couldn’t be happier with our partner Entre Amigos. Our community mobilization efforts in the Merrimack Valley are really coming to the forefront as we help our vulnerable communities.”

Follow on care and case work will continue for those affected.

This follows recovery efforts last week, when an emergency shelter was opened Tuesday evening following the fire. The shelter continued to operate through Friday after the fire, providing shelter, food and comfort to residents without housing options.