Several fundraisers have been started to help those who lost their livelihoods in the devastating downtown Vernon fire Tuesday.
Greg and Melvin lived in a suite adjacent to the Okanagan Eatery which suffered catastrophic fire damage early July 4.
鈥淕reg and his dog Melvin have lost everything and must start from scratch,鈥� a reads. 鈥淪ome of you know Greg as a regular at Marten Brewing and the Kal. Let鈥檚 help Greg get back on his feet!鈥�
To donate, visit .
Eunike Boutique was also lost in the blaze. Shayla Cole started a for her mom鈥檚 consignment business.
Cole said before owning the boutique she and her mom would shop there regularly, and they fell in love with it.
鈥淚t was always my mother鈥檚 dream to have a store of her own. When the old owner told us she was selling, we knew it would be perfect for my mom.
鈥淭his shop is where my mom has spent all of her time and was where she planned to spend for the rest of her working career. This store is very dear to our hearts.鈥�
Eunike Boutique did not have insurance.
鈥淲e are completely devastated for her,鈥� Cole wrote in the GoFundMe. 鈥淪he sat downtown at 4 a.m. watching her store burn in tears.鈥�
The Okanagan Eatery had just celebrated its second year of operation when it was destroyed by the blaze.
According to a created Tuesday, a young new family 鈥減oured their heart and soul into opening up what has been known as the 鈥榖runch spot of the Okanagan.鈥欌��
The business was started by Chelsea and Dustin White, who have a two-year-old son, according to the GoFundMe launched by Abby Lagerquist.
鈥淭ruly, some of the most genuine hard-working people I have ever met. They survived a worldwide pandemic, thriving in an industry with one of the lowest success rates. Their perseverance and talent helped them navigate through it all,鈥� Lagerquist wrote.
While insurance will help cover some of the costs, 鈥渋t doesn鈥檛 cover everything,鈥� Lagerquist wrote.
鈥淭his young family and employees will be out of work, and everything they have worked for is up in smoke.鈥�
As of Wednesday morning, the fundraiser for Okanagan Eatery has received $16,430 of its $20,000 goal. The GoFundMe for Eunike Boutique has raised just $1,963, and the fundraiser for Greg just $1,315.
The fire was found to have started from outside the building in the 2800 block of 30th Street, according to Vernon Fire Rescue Services Chief David Lind. It has been deemed suspicious in nature and is under investigation by the Vernon RCMP.
Crews were called to the blaze around 2:20 a.m. Tuesday morning. There were no injuries and a single occupant and a dog were able to escape.
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