ALLENTOWN, Pa. – An Allentown church is stepping up to try to help the people who lost everything in the Front Street fire that started at a former furniture factory.

Following Sunday service, Pastor Jimmie Rivera of City Limits Assembly of God was among volunteers carrying bags filled with donated clothing, toiletries, shoes, and other essentials for families impacted by Wednesday night’s fire.

“We’ve got clothes and all kinds of stuff,” Rivera said. “I told people to bring gently used items, but there’s also brand-new things for young ladies, kids’ shoes, toiletries and other necessities so they can kind of get back to some normalization.”

The church has also collected gift cards and monetary donations. A fundraiser featuring hot dogs encouraged community members to give what they could.

“Some people just came and put money in and said, ‘I don’t want a hot dog. I just want to leave some money,'” Rivera said. “I thought that was very nice.”

The fire hit especially close to home, happening just down the street from where the church stands. Rivera said church members have been helping since the first night by distributing water and offering support to displaced families.

“It shows that we love our community,” Rivera said. “I love the people in it.”

Among those who stopped by Sunday was Stephanie Papaleo, one of the 36 people displaced by the fire. She and her family are currently staying in a hotel as they begin the long process of rebuilding.

“It means the world because we see a community coming together and helping those that need it,” Papaleo said. “I feel like it’s a beautiful thing.”

Papaleo said every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference.

“Even if it’s a dollar, a piece of clothing, a piece of food — whatever anybody can give us, not only us but our neighbors,” she said.

As volunteers prayed with families and continued organizing donations, Rivera said the church is committed to helping long after the initial response.

“I’m just going to be there for them,” he said. “There are next steps, and we want to be part of them.”