Victims lead fundraising efforts for people left homeless by White Rock fire

The charred remains of Vanilla Clothing, a small retail shop on the corner of Johnston Road and Pacific Avenue in White Rock, are behind yellow police tape and blue temporary fencing. The store, along with a four storey apartment complex and a handful of other small business, was gutted by a massive fire early Sunday morning.

More than100 people were left homeless.

When Vanilla Clothing ownerDeannaWhissell found out about the fire, she sent out a Facebook note asking her customers to help her neighbours.

"My phone was blowing up with text messages from people wondering how they could help, where they could drop off clothes and cash," she says.

Since that message went out, Whissell has been coordinating donations of clothing and toiletries at First United Church, not far from her store.

Victims helping victims

Next door to Vanilla Clothing is Laura's Coffee Corner, which is also a burned-out mess.

Laura Cornale, who hasowned the coffee shop for six years, says it has become a gathering place for the community.

"It's like my home because, I mean, I spend like, 15 hours a day there."

"I just want to go inside but I can't."

When Cornale learned her business was badly damaged, she started a fundraising page for her customers who were left homeless.

"We all take care of each other," she says.

"There are a lot of seniors in the building and I have their phone numbers on my wall. If I don't see them for a few days, I call and check up on them. If they're going to be gone they let me know so I don't worry about them."

Cornale's page has raised more than $19,000.