Belleville school community rallies around employee after fire destroyed her home
Althoff Catholic High School is encouraging community members to donate to help a staff member after a fire destroyed her home.
Ethel Coleman, the school’s lead custodian, and her three children lost their East St. Louis home and their belongings in a house fire last Wednesday.
The metro-east school is raising funds through a Give Butter campaign, which is a website similar to Go Fund Me, and collecting donations for Coleman and her children.
“During times like these, we are reminded of the strength of the community,” Principal Justin Birdsong says in the fundraiser description. “We have an opportunity to come together and support Ethel and her family as they begin to rebuild their lives.”
The Give Butter fundraiser is available online at bit.ly/4bFwSt0. Give Butter donations will help pay for clothing, housing, school expenses and other “daily necessities,” the description says. Coleman has a son, 16, and two daughters, 14 and 6.
The school is also accepting donations in the main office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; the office will be closed for Easter break Thursday, April 2 through Monday, April 6. It will continue collecting donations in the main office, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., after break.
Needed items are as follows:
- boy’s pants size 28 waist and 30 length
- men’s shirts size small/medium
- men’s shoes size 8
- girl’s junior pants size 14; size 11
- women’s tops size small, large
- women’s shoes size 5
- girl’s pants and shirts size 7/8
- girl’s shoes size 13.5
- women’s pants size 10
- women’s shoes size 7
“Every act of kindness — whether through giving, sharing this message or offering prayers — will help bring hope and stability to this family during this difficult time,” an Althoff Facebook post reads.
Birdsong praised Coleman’s work ethic to the BND.
“She’s a hard worker who takes great pride in her work and genuinely cares about students,” Birdsong said. “She’s always pleasant, happy and willing to go above and beyond.”