Dent County residents rush to save Christmas after workshop fire

SALEM, Mo. — Residents in Dent County are working to save Christmas.

Overnight, a fire engulfed and burned down Scenic Rivers Industries/Sheltered Workshop, which was the housing location for toys donated in the Dent County Toy Drive.

Not just the toys, but workers at SRI/Sheltered Workshop are now out of work, with just over a week to go before Christmas.

However, in Salem, many are flooding stores and donating what they can.

"All of us in Salem, it's a small town, but we know most everyone and it's just a community thing. We rally together when there's a need and I think our community will pull together and things will be fine," Paula Land said.

Land is just one of the many who heard about the fire and went straight to the store.

"Heartache. It's such a big part of our community to see it and know how many people that affects, and then to hear on top of just the people that work there, but for a community to lose toys and presents that were going to the kids that were going to be delivered this week, it's just heartbreaking," Land said.

Land says the Dent County Toy Drive isn't just an annual event, but the group behind it collects year-round.

"There's several people that I know they collect all year long. Sometimes it's bargain things or things that they find on sale and they'll collect, but they work on it all year long," Land said. "They were just now putting all of the gifts together and names on them, putting stocking stuffers together. They were ready to deliver all of things."

Many locations in Salem, like the Chamber of Commerce, the Community Center and other local businesses are taking in donations, hygiene kits, money, and food to help all impacted.

Land says her heart hurts for those without a job as well.

"I think they'll find a place for them. They do a lot for the community. They run the recycling place and we take cardboard and newspapers, recyclable things to them, and they package them up and they have different jobs they do for the community in different areas, putting things together and things," Land said. "I think people will rally around and it'll be fine. We help where we need it. There's lots of need in our area, but we have great people and people who are willing to give and donate and with their time, money or whatever."

Patricia Rice stopped by the Chamber for her second stop with more toys with her daughter and granddaughter in tow.

"The fire this morning, some of their toys got burned, so my daughter and her husband own a company, Price's Affordable Concrete, and they had the extra money to do this. So this is what we did for the children in the community," Rice said. "It was disturbing news. [Also, the workers] they're going to be out of work, you know, trying to find a place to stay. That's going to be hard on them. Hopefully, good things will come."

Land and Rice say this effort with such little time before Christmas is another example of a small town working to make a big difference.

"We just want to make it a merry Christmas for everyone. Remember the reason for the season, and we'll have a great Christmas," Land said.

"Salem was wonderful. I've been here for we've been here for 20 years and I'm proud of this community," Rice said.

Calls have been made to the Dent County Fire Protection District for details on the fire, such as a cause for the flames but have not heard back. 

Updates will be made to this story as we get more information.