Families affected by the February 7th sugar refinery explosion near Savannah began applying for financial help today.
The United Way of the Coastal Empire has collected more than $630,000 for the sugar refinery fund. Officials estimate, at least 490 families could apply for the aid. The United Way's Gregg Shroeder says, at least 60 families showed up at Port Wentworth Baptist Church to fill out applications Wednesday morning.
"There is a real clamoring for the need because you've got folk that have lost their full-time, steady employment that have needs and mortgages and traditional living expenses that go on," Schroeder says.
The most seriously affected workers are those with medical bills and those who worked for Imperial Sugar's contractors. The refinery continued sending paychecks to employees forced out of work by the explosion, while contract workers simply didn't get paid.
The United Way of the Coastal Empire has collected more than $630,000 for the sugar refinery fund. Officials estimate, at least 490 families could apply for the aid. The United Way's Gregg Shroeder says, at least 60 families showed up at Port Wentworth Baptist Church to fill out applications Wednesday morning.
"There is a real clamoring for the need because you've got folk that have lost their full-time, steady employment that have needs and mortgages and traditional living expenses that go on," Schroeder says.
The most seriously affected workers are those with medical bills and those who worked for Imperial Sugar's contractors. The refinery continued sending paychecks to employees forced out of work by the explosion, while contract workers simply didn't get paid.
