TINLEY PARK, Ill. (WLS) — A small fire inside a Tinley Park nonprofit has ruined most of the food and donated items they had planned to distribute for the holidays.
The fire happened Monday morning as the Together We Cope organization was about to kick off their annual Thanksgiving food distribution to families in need.
“Nothing could go out of here. Nothing can come in and that was hard,” said Kathryn Straniero, executive director of Together We Cope.
Straneiro arrived to see smoke coming out of the building on Oak Park Avenue and 170th Street as families were showing up to pick up what would have been their Thanksgiving meal.
“It was hard for staff to be turning them away when they’re so they’re so used to coming here to get it and to tell them no, it was it was very difficult for them,” said Mayor Michael Glotz, who is also on the board …