Community Rallies Around Heights Explosion Victims

Local efforts to help those hurt and displaced by the Feb. 23 Haddon Heights apartment explosion continue to take shape.

The explosion, thought to be caused by a natural gas leak, flattened a Victorian home transformed into five apartments. One woman, Raquel Nunn, was severely burned and remains hospitalized from her injuries. Another woman suffered more minor injuries, and all residents were left homeless.

The only thing standing after the powerful explosion, felt several towns away, was a section of wall.

Haddon Heights Good Neighbors, a registered nonprofit that bills itself as “a group of neighbors helping neighbors,” is taking donations for all of the apartment building’s residents who were displaced in the explosion. Checks should be made out to “Haddon Heights Good Neighbors” with “fire victims” in the memo line.

Donations may be mailed or dropped off at Haddon Heights Borough Hall, 625 Station Ave., Haddon Heights, NJ 08035.

Mindy’s Place salon in Haddon Heights also is collecting items for Nunn. Owner Mindy Berwick’s brother is friends with Nunn; “we wanted to help,” Berwick said simply.

The salon is accepting clothing, gift cards and personal items, which can be dropped off at 904 Kings Highway, Haddon Heights, during business hours (Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m-7:30 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.)

Berwick also set up a page for Nunn on Give Forward, a donation center specifically geared toward helping with medical bills. Nunn does not have health insurance. Berwick set a $10,000 goal on the page, which already had $675 as of Monday evening. Visit giveforward.com/helpraquelnunn for more information or to donate.

These drives are in addition to the efforts of Nunn’s coworkers at Ott's Greentop Inn in Berlin. They’re holding Recovery 4 Raquel, a relief fundraiser, on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. The event will include live music and a free buffet.

Meanwhile, as of Monday evening, police were still hoping to find Leo, Nunn’s missing cat. He’s described as all-black, 20-pound Maine coon who likes to eat green beans. (Pictured above.)

Hear about any other relief efforts for the victims of the White Horse Pike explosion? Tell us in the comments.