'Fill-the-Truck' Event To Help Victims Of Village Inn Apartments

When the Village Inn Apartments in Battle Creek caught fire in July of this year, over 80 families were displaced.

Now, a coalition of veterans groups is working on an effort to help them recover.

American Legion Posts 54, 257 and 298 are coming together to host the "Fill-the-Truck" event on October 6, to benefit those affected by the fire. They are seeking for those around the community to bring in household items like towels, silverware, kitchen appliances and other utensils, rugs, warm clothing, and more.

However, they ask that you do not bring large appliances or furnishings; Commander Brian Mohlman of Post 257 tells 95.3 WBCK that "we are unfortunately unable to handle those."

The Village Inn Apartments near Riverside Dr. and Dickman Rd. in Battle Creek were set ablaze in late July. The buildings were condemned shortly afterwards, and only some residents were able to re-enter to retrieve their belongings. Since then, the Battle Creek Fire Marshall says that evidence shows the fire was started when someone inside was attempting to create hash oil through butane extraction, a potentially explosive process to extract THC from marijuana in a more concentrated form.

The Fill-the-Truck event takes place October 6, from 9am to 3pm at the American Legion Post 298, located at 228 N 20th St. in Battle Creek. The complete list of requested items is found below.