Fire forces United Way of Perry County to move donations drop-off

Fire forced United Way of Perry County to change where residents could bring donations after flames damaged its building in Tell City and left the structure a total loss. The disruption did not stop with the building itself: other businesses housed in the same structure were affected, and the nonprofit had to keep supplies and community support moving while it rebuilt.

Perry County dispatch first said it could not release details while crews were still working the fire. As the damage became clear, local officials and the nonprofit moved quickly to direct donors to new drop-off arrangements, and a donation box was set up for United Way of Perry County after the building burned. United Way also said it was steering supporters toward online wishlists and monetary donations instead of traditional collection sites while it worked through the aftermath.

The fire hit more than one part of the organization’s work. United Way of Perry County’s website lists community efforts including Angel Store and Stuff the Bus, programs that depend on steady public giving and a place to store or sort items. WFIE later reported that the building and everything inside, including the annual Angel Store, were destroyed. That left the nonprofit without its headquarters and without the normal collection setup residents in Perry County had used before the blaze.

The relocation mattered because United Way often functions as a local hub for charitable giving in Tell City and across Perry County. When a building like that goes out of service, the effect reaches beyond one organization’s office. Donations have to be rerouted, public notices have to be updated, and partner agencies have to know where supplies are going so help does not stall. In a county where many residents depend on local volunteer networks, even a short interruption can slow the flow of items and cash that support seasonal drives and community assistance.

Nearly two months after the December fire, United Way of Perry County found a new home at 1621 North Main Street in Tell City. That move gave donors a new place to direct help while the organization continued rebuilding, and it restored a physical base for the programs that had been displaced by the fire.