AMHERST, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - All week long, we have been covering the massive fire at an apartment complex in Amherst and its aftermath. At least 230 UMass students displaced and continue to try to move forward.

This is one of the last things any college student should go through, losing so much, including school supplies, while also trying to complete the final leg of this semester. An extra weight added to their shoulders as there is only so much they can do. Our crews have been at the UMass area for much of the week following Friday night’s fire on Olympia Drive.

An incident that has left at least 230 UMass students displaced as the apartment complex was damaged and eventually demolished. We can tell you the donation effort has continued at the New2U thrift store at the campus’ Hampden Commons.

So many clothes and other items coming in by the dozens every day since the massive fire that resulted in the demolition of Olympia Place. Many students lost everything aside from the clothes they were wearing and whatever some of them could grab before it was too late. All week long, we have witnessed students who were impacted going in and put of the store with some of the clothing and other items donated by both the UMass and general Amherst communities.

Among them, Cameron Pellegrino, a junior who lived with three others at Olympia Place. he lost everything in the aftermath, including his notebooks, his laptop, school supplies, and other possessions.

Despite all of that, he is keeping his head held high and says he has had friends in his orbit to make sure there is a smile on his face throughout the week, “humor is always a great way for us. If we’re making jokes, it’s better because you laugh or you cry. It was another thing that we talked a lot about. If you’re making jokes, then you’re not going to think about it as much.”

Pellegrino also told us his professors have been very flexible and have given them assistance, including pizza from Antonio’s. Of course, all of this happening with final exams and project deadlines approaching.

We also spoke with Andrew Magner, another junior who lived in the complex. He’s been living with a friend the entire week and will be moving into one of the dorms soon.

He told Western Mass News from a mental aspect; he has had flashes of seeing his apartment building burn and losing so many valuables and possessions. Despite these circumstances, he has been able to see a bright side out of all of this, “you get to see the good part of humanity. I have friends who I haven’t talked to in several years reach out and say ‘hey, what happened? What can I do to for you? How can I help?’ So while it’s been a tragedy, it’s been great getting back to some people and uplifting each other,” said Magner.

We were in contact with UMass to see if anyone from Mental Health Resources was available to speak with us today. However, they did not get back to us.

We can tell you the owner of let’s go laundry, a local laundromat, put out on Facebook that they are offering free washing and drying for students displaced by this fire. It just shows how much this community is caring about everyone who lost almost everything in this disaster.

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