Donations are being accepted for fire victims

By Lisa Shapiro

Staff Writer

Edna residents are mourning the loss of five children, ages 16 years and younger who died in a fire on Nov. 25 and some individuals are collecting donations for the surviving family members. Johnny Hernandez and Anabel Ortiz of Edna, along with their son, Johnny Hernandez III, escaped the fire that destroyed their mobile home and devastated the community.

A group of Edna High School students are going to businesses and collecting monetary donations for the family members. Noah Ortiz, EHS varsity football player, was one of the children who was killed in the fire. 

EHS’s Emily Yendrey and Skye Benavides knew Ortiz and were saddened by the news.

“It’s crazy,” Yendrey said.

“We’re shocked,” Skye Benavides said. “We want to help the family by collecting donations because anything will help.”

Yendrey said anyone can call her cell phone at 361-781-2206 if they would like to make a monetary donation. She said donations can also be dropped off or mailed to the Edna High School at 1307 W. Gayle St. Sara Zamora is accepting donations at 600 N. Kleas, Apt. 28 in Edna. Barbara Neville, disaster program manager at American Red Cross, said the family needs little boy sizes 4T, size 6 shoes and toys; women’s size XL shirts, size 14 pants, size 6 shoes; and men’s XL shirts, size 32 pants, and size 10 shoes. For more information, call Neville at 361-894-1232.

Noah’s death comes shortly after the EHS football team defeated the Goliad Tigers during the second round in the playoffs and became area champions on Nov. 21.  

The football team will play in a playoff game against Ingram Moore at Canyon Stadium in New Braunfels on Nov. 29, Saturday at 6 p.m. EHS football players will be wearing stickers with Ortiz’s number 50 on their helmets during the playoff game in memory of him, Edna Independent School District Superintendent Robert O’Connor said. 

O’Connor said T-shirts are being ordered with Ortiz’s number on them as well and proceeds from the shirts will go to the Ortiz/Hernandez Family Fund. He said EISD established the Ortiz/Hernadez Fund at Prosperity bank. Anyone wanting to contribute may give donations at either Prosperity Bank or the EISD central office. He said multiple EHS organizations/clubs are going to hold fundraisers for the family as well.

“The timing of this incident is unbelievable, especially with Thanksgiving being this week,” O’Connor said.

He said Nicholas and Julian, Edna Junior High students and Lilyana and Areyanah, students at Edna Elementary, were also killed in the fire. 

Edna High School basketball games on Nov. 25 were canceled so students could stay home and mourn for those lost. O’Connor said grief counselors were available at the high school for students.

Edna Elementary School posted on its website grief counselors will be available at their school for students who knew the victims. 

Donations may also be sent to http://www.gofundme.com/hst0no.