Helping Hands aids Bensenville fire victims

Every time his firefighters extinguish a blaze and head back to the station, one thing troubles Bensenville Fire Chief Mike Spain.

“I always thought there was a void after the fire,” Spain said. “The emergency responders all do what needs to be done at the scene, but then we give the people a pamphlet that says what to do and we pretty much leave.”

Many questions often remain for the victims, he said. So Spain always gives them his business card in case they need extra help.

This spring, however, he and about 30 volunteers decided to do much more. Spain and his friend, Denise Gallagher, who formerly was a Kiwanis Club volunteer with the chief, launched Helping Hands — a group they say may be the first of its kind in the country.

Helping Hands aims to meet fire victims immediately after the crisis and assist residents for up to three days as they get back on their feet.

“We want to be available for anything they could possibly think of needing,” Gallagher said. “There’s so much going through their minds at that time, so there are little things you can forget that are really important, like prescription drugs. Once those are affected, you can’t use them and what if you need your heart medicine?”

The group plans to meet fire victims on-site and offer items such as toiletries, clothes and grocery gift cards. It also will offer advice on how to contact services such as window-boarding companies or navigate insurance claims.

To raise money for the cause, the group registered as a nonprofit and is exploring grants. Members also are accepting donations and will raise money with a golf outing Sept. 22 at White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville.

Spain said he believes Helping Hands is the first group specifically aiding fire victims in partnership with a fire district or department. He said the group plans to work in conjunction with other nonprofits, including the American Red Cross.

“The Red Cross has experienced budget cuts like everyone else, and they cannot be there to help everyone with everything,” he said. “This is residents giving back to residents, and that’s the cool thing.”

The group responded to its first fire on Saturday after forming in April. Spain said no one was injured in the blaze that affected a car port adjacent a Bensenville home. The fire was caused when smokers left their cigarettes smoldering in a garbage can, he said.

Gallagher said the minor fire was a good practice run for Helping Hands, and she admitted the group must iron out some details to become efficient.

Currently, the group is putting together a training package for volunteers who step up to be first responders at a fire, which would require CPR certification.

“We are treading lightly to see how things go, since this is a work in progress,” said Gallagher.

But Spain said Helping Hands’ economic and physical responses aren’t the only comfort the group offers. Its emotional outreach is key, too.

“A fire is psychologically one of the most devastating events that can happen,” he said. “If more (volunteers) could help out like this, the world would be a better place.”

If you go

What: The Helping Hands membership meeting

When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8

Where: Bensenville Fire Station 1, 500 S. York Road, Bensenville

Cost: $20 to join

Details: bensenvillefpd.org/helping-hands or helpinghands@bensenvillefpd.org