Richardson PTA helps students get clothes after condo fire

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Some Richardson ISD students were among the 60 people left homeless by Tuesday's condo fire in Northeast Dallas and the district's PTA is helping out.

Officials said 18 students were affected by the four-alarm fire and six of them lost everything they own. RISD PTA members are now collecting donations to make sure those students can get a new wardrobe.

The scene was fenced off and locked up on Wednesday, the day after the damaging fire. Nothing in 24 units was salvageable and in other condos water was everywhere. So volunteers are stepping up to help.

“We are at least able to provide for their basic needs so they can get back to some sort of routine,” said Crystalyn Roberts, Richardson ISD Council of PTA’s Clothes Closet.

The clothes closet typically helps kids who are referred by a counselor nurse or teacher.

“The little girls we’ve had them come in and say I feel like a fairy princess. A little girl left the other day, grateful for all her presents,” Roberts said.

Like other clients, the fire victims will receive a full wardrobe complete with hats and gloves.

“A little boy picked up a coat and said I’ve been looking for this my whole life. He was maybe 8 years old,” Roberts said.

Roberts knows they won’t be able to replace all the clothes the six RISD students likely treasured, but she hopes it is a start.

“The kids are ready to go to school and learn and don’t have to think, ‘Am I wearing the same thing I wore yesterday?’”

The clothes closet is located on west beltline road, across from Richardson High School. It accepts donations on Mondays from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. There are also donation boxes at some RISD schools.

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/RISDCC/