Updates: Fire at Park Manor Apartments

Frances Faehner, vice president of Campus & Student Life, distributed the following information to the Andrews University community on Sunday, August 25.

Dear Andrews University Community,

I wanted to share a number of updates with you regarding a catastrophic fire that destroyed one section of the Park Manor Apartments here in Berrien Springs late last night.

Thanks to the work of local emergency services, along with the many other support and relief teams who were at the scene of the fire, there were no injuries or deaths.

Our Campus Safety director, Ben Panigot, my colleagues, Stephen Yeagley, Teela Ruehle and Jennifer Burrill, along with Pioneer Memorial Church pastors José Bourget, Ben Martin and Rodlie Ortiz, all worked together late last evening as we sought to contact Andrews students and employees who were residents of these apartments. We were able to successfully reach the individuals impacted and confirm that they had housing alternatives by early this morning.

We were also grateful for our Andrews University Crayon Box staff who were on the scene sharing diapers and other childcare needs with those who were displaced. Many others in our Andrews community also reached out at the scene of the fire, or through electronic communication, with offers to personally help. Many thanks to all of you.

We are committed to continue to pray for and directly support those in our Berrien Springs community who have been affected by last evening’s fire. Right now, if you wish to help the Park Manor Fire victims, the most urgent need is cash donations to address food and housing needs for all. The other urgent need is to help families with young children by providing diapers, clothes, cribs/bassinets and so on.

If you wish to assist with a cash donation, please go to andrews.edu/go/give/, use the dropdown menu under “I want to invest in,” and select (or search for) “Other.” Once you’ve selected that, insert “Park Manor Fire Victims” in the “My Instructions” field, and provide your applicable donation information in the subsequent fields.

You can also donate items, such as children’s clothing, through Neighbor to Neighbor, 9147 U.S. Highway 31, Berrien Springs. Monetary donations through Neighbor to Neighbor can be made online at n2nhelps.com/donate/. Those cash donations will also help support those affected by the fire.

Finally, please note that Neighbor to Neighbor will be open today, August 25, from 2–4 p.m., specifically for those who were personally affected by this fire.

The Andrews University administration along with my colleagues in Campus & Student Life will continue to work to address the needs of our students and employees who are displaced from their homes and impacted by this fire. We will share additional updates, as appropriate, on the Andrews University Facebook page at facebook.com/andrewsuniversity.

We cherish your prayers and your ongoing and tangible support.

With care,

Frances Faehner
Vice President of Campus & Student Life