ST. LOUIS — Roughly 200 residents forced from their Midtown apartment building after water pipes burst due to the frigid temperatures still need your help.
"Oh goodness, it's like we are living in the twilight zone," displaced Heritage House resident Monica French-Bohlen said.
Residents had to leave all of their belongings at the Heritage House earlier this week, and now 85 of them are being temporarily housed at the Ballpark Village Hilton Hotel, where the property manager recently extended their stay until Sunday.
"We are grateful to be in this beautiful place and have a roof over our heads, that's number one," French-Bohlen said. "The tragic part is we don't know what tomorrow holds, so we don't know how long we are going to be here. We have residents that are still not able to get their mail, their packages, their medicines, things that you usually have, day-by-day, to survive."
Multiple community groups, including the Vivian Whitley Foundation and the Universal African People’s Organization, are collecting everyday goods, such as breakfast food and water, for displaced residents.
The Vivian Whitley Foundation told 5 On Your Side that many residents are dehydrated.
Their biggest need right now is bottled water, non-perishable food, breakfast bars, socks, hats, scarves and gloves. Monetary donations can be given in gift cards, as well.
Residents evacuated the Midtown building on Monday after flooding caused massive damage.
Property owners of the Heritage House said they aren't sure when residents will be able to move back in, but they're discussing furthering an extension of their stay at the Hilton.
Members of the public can drop off any donations at the Manchester Room in Ballpark Hilton from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
If you can't leave your home, contact the Vivian Whitley Foundation so they can pick your items up. Email Raine Houston with Vivian Whitley at rainehouston@yahoo.com to set a time for pick-up. Houston is also asking managers of senior living facilities with vacancies to contact her so she can drop off applications from Heritage House residents.
The Universal African People's Organization will host a festive evening of giving at the Hilton Ballpark Village at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24.
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