More than $2,500 raised after fire at downtown Kitchener apartments

Downtown Kitchener businesses have raised more than $2,500 for people affected by an apartment fire on Good Friday.

The Berlin raised $2,145 through the sale of entrees over the long weekend and the restaurant will top that up to $2,500, co-owner Ryan Lloyd-Craig told CBC News.

• Downtown Kitchener businesses raising money for neighbours affected by apartment fire

TheMuseum raised $152 from public donations. They are matching donations up to $500 and will be accepting donations at the visitor services desk until the end of this week.

According to Jenna Van Klaveren, communications manager at TheMuseum, the money was going to be donated to the Red Cross to help those affected.

But Red Cross Communications Manager Sarah Bartley said that while the organization does accept donations yearly through its Canadian Disaster Relief Fund, all funds are pooled.

"We're unfortunately not set up to take donations that are routed to specific individuals and residents as they recover from personal disasters," Bartley said.

"While we're happy to collect donations that go to help respond to future disasters, unfortunately...if people do want to donate to specific fires, for example, or floods where residents are affected, we can't route those funds directly to those residents."

She said she will be speaking with TheMuseum and The Berlin to get a better sense of their intentions for the funds raised.

According to the Red Cross, people living in six of the 12 units in the building at 37 King St. W. were affected. Some were displaced while others needed food or clothing.

Bartley said the Red Cross responded to the needs of six individuals who were affected by the fire with money from the relief fund. 

Damage to the building is estimated to be $350,000. The cause is not suspicious, officials said.