Three Berlin Families still struggling after apartment building fire

Back on April 3rd, with flames shooting out of a door and window at the Trappe Creek Apartments in Berlin, crews managed to stop the flames from destroying the entire complex.

However, it still impacted three families’, who are still struggling weeks later.

“You are lost, you lost everything, you have to rebuild everything from bottom up, so it is truly terrifying,” says Dikesha Johnson.

Investigators reportedly determined that the grease fire started in Johnson’s unit, which was completely destroyed. She says her landlord terminated her lease.

She described her life now as moving from hotel to hotel with her two kids. Meanwhile, her two neighbors, also with young children, say they’re dealing with destroyed furniture, flooding, and concerns over mold.

“We’re back home and we’re upstairs, we can’t go downstairs or anything, even if we did have our furniture we don’t have floors,” says Bryauna Menafee.

One of the residents says she has a hefty electric bill as a result.

“They’ve got all these fans and stuff and a heater in there and it’s been going ever since the fire,” says Marie Briddell.

That’s where Project Soulful comes in. They are a community support and advocacy group that is planning a fundraiser for next month. There will be free food and gospel entertainment for a donation, which can be money, furniture, or clothing donations.

“At one point I felt I was going to go through this journey alone by myself,” says Johnson. “We really need it.”

Founder of Project Soulful, Lareka Marshall, says it is now up to folks living and working in the town of Berlin to show up, and she’s confident they will.

“I believe there is a lot of good-hearted people in this area and they’re going to come out to help.”

The event will be from 11 AM to 3 PM at Berlin Intermediate School on May 2nd. To make a clothing donation, they are looking for women’s size 14, large shirt and size 7 1/2 shoe; girl’s size 11-12 and size 2 shoe; and girl’s size 7-8 and size 12 shoe.

For more information, call 302-233-6160.