Efforts Under Way To Help Victims of Allentown’s Blast

Upper Milford Hosts Live Benefit for Victims of Allentown’s Blast

Listen Live! Music Inc. has converted its monthly Open Mic into a fundraiser for the families who lost their loved ones and their homes in Wednesday’s explosion and fire in Allentown.

Listen Live Music, based at the Upper Milford Municipal Center in Zionsville, is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing affordable music close to home. And on Saturday, they are using their venue to help rebuild people’s lives, too.

The co-founders of the organization, Ami Lanning and Val Minett, came up with the idea just yesterday to turn Saturday's monthly open mic night into an opportunity to help the victims of the explosion and fire in Allentown.

Minett sent out an email blast last night and it went up on sites and blogs all over the Lehigh Valley. As a result, Lanning said,  Impress Packaging of Emmaus already donated $250 to the cause. They are hopeful that more will follow.

Minett works for Wachovia Bank and has set up an account there where Lanning says 100 percent of the money raised on Saturday will go.

"We want to make sure the money gets to the victims directly," she said. "Even if we have to get in the car and drive around Allentown to find them, that's what we'll do."

A collection jar will also be passed around during the performances Saturday, Feb. 12. The featured performer is Lara Herscovitch, described by Listen Live Music as a unique, award-winning singer-songwriter, who masterfully blends modern acoustic/folk with pop, jazz, blues and Latin influences.

Doors open at 7 p.m. and there is a suggested $3 cover to help with expenses.

American Red Cross

If you would like to make a donation to the American Red Cross for disaster relief efforts, you can do so by donating online atwww.redcrosslv.org; or calling 610-865-4400 to make a credit card donation.

You can also send a check payable to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA 18017

Cordelia Miller, director of emergency services, said the American Red Cross gives debit cards with monetary value to those displaced so that they can make their own choices.

“It’s a psychological boost for these families,” Miller said. “It gives the clients some sort of control over their own lives.”

Allen vs. Dieruff Basketball Games Tonight

Monetary donations will be accepted at the varsity basketball games tonight (Feb. 11) at the Allen High School gym on Turner Street, Allentown. The varsity girls games starts at 6:30 p.m., and the varsity boys game starts at 8 p.m.

Donations will be given to the American Red Cross to help with disaster relief efforts for this tragedy and other events.

St. Luke’s Neighborhood Center

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and St. Luke’s Neighborhood Center are partnering to offer clothing to those displaced by the natural gas explosion, said parish administrator Leslie Talago.

St. Luke’s operates a clothing closet every Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the center at 417 N. Seventh St., Allentown.

Talago said the center is accepting additional donations at the outside vestibule of men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, and new, packaged undergarments to help those displaced. Baby clothes and baby items are not needed, she said.