Wyandotte Woman Creates Makeshift Donation Center After Fire Claims Life of Neighbor

Kathy Slack didn't know Iris Shepherd very well. The two were neighbors and spoke occasionally.

Shepherd died in a house fire Friday at the corner of Maple and 14th streets, which left her daughter, Dena Cooper, 39, son, Charles Shepherd, 26, and Cooper's two sons, Christian, 11, and Cameron, 8, without a home or possessions.

As Slack watched the blaze from her flat on the second floor of a house across the street, 1421 Maple, she began wondering how she could help her neighbors through the terrible tragedy.

At about 6:40 p.m. Saturday, Slack put a call out for clothing and hygiene items for the displaced family in the comment section of a Wyandotte Patch article detailing the fire. Patch readers began inquiring about ways they can help and Slack was at the ready.

"I am doing 2 drop offs at my house across the street, tomorrow from 11-2 and Monday 11-8," Slack stated in a comment at about 10:45 p.m. Sunday.

Soon people began visiting Slack from all around bearing clothing, toiletries, cash and gift cards. Slack realized she had enough clothing for all four family members less than 24 hours after posting the drop-off information on Patch.

Slack, a mother of four, suffered a tragedy of her own in 2007 when her son, just 50 days old, died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Slack recalled being moved by the outpour of community support during her time of need.

"I want to pay it forward," Slack said. "It's not a noble thing, not a heroic thing. It's what people should do."

Slack said she has began asking people to donate money instead of clothing Monday afternoon, after Cooper and Shepherd stated they had more than enough clothing. Slack's yard was overflowing with boxes and bags of donated clothing.

On Monday afternoon, Slack contacted a friend at Chase Bank in Wyandotte to help Cooper create an account where people can donate money. The account was not available Monday night.

Slack said she isn't the only neighbor who got involved in the effort.

"They (other neighbors) have been amazing, too," Slack said. "Everyone around here has been like, 'OK, what can we do,'" Slack said.

Slack credits the Wyandotte community for the generous outpour of support.

"Living in Wyandotte is like living any place else in the world—only better," Slack said.

Contact Kathy Slack angelrainbowinspirations@gmail.com to help Cooper and her family get back on their feet.