A longstanding St. Paul nonprofit that buys work tools, uniforms and bus passes for homeless workers has found itself at least temporarily homeless following a fire at its University Avenue headquarters.
Small Sums planned to begin appealing to the public Monday for donations and a transit-accessible work space it can inhabit for up to three months.
The nonprofit operates out of 1549 University Ave. W., an office building along the Green Line just east of Snelling Avenue.
Around 11 a.m. Friday, an assistant director noted a noxious smell, and an intern opened a door to discover smoke filling their hallway.
“I called 911 and within minutes the fire department arrived and headed into the building where a fire had broken out just above our office,” said Assistant Director Sierra Hegstrom, in an email to the nonprofit’s fans, funders and clients. “Fortunately our staff was able to get out safely, and we were the only ones in the building at the time. Two hours later the fire was out and we were left standing in shock at what had just taken place.”
Hegstrom said the office suffered smoke and water damage and is uninhabitable for the time being. Some ceiling plaster fell onto work cubicles, and clothes and shoes that Small Sums shares with homeless clients were waterlogged and smoke-damaged.
The office remains closed indefinitely “as we get creative in figuring out the quickest way to be seeing clients again,” she wrote. “Small Sums’ spirit (is) of helping people get back on their feet, we too will be back on ours.”
In an interview, Hegstrom said her small staff has been meeting in the conference room of a building on Energy Park Drive, but the nonprofit will look for a transit-accessible office space it can occupy for up to three months while its headquarters is being repaired. Founded over 16 years ago, Small Sums has had the University Avenue office for about two years. “We need a place that is right off the Green Line,” she said.
Small Sums outfits more than 500 homeless clients a year with the equipment needed to either begin employment or move up in their job. That includes steel-toed work boots, trade tools for barbers and construction workers, bus passes and uniforms. The organization also covers the cost of testing fees, union dues, licenses and license renewals.
Client intake coordinator Eurell Lewis said on Facebook that working at Small Sums has been his “dream job, my sanctuary and my peace. This allows me to fill my heart with joy and if you’ve ever spoken to me about my job you know that I truly love what I do. I know that we will bounce back better than ever and will be able to help our community again but this definitely hurts.”
Hegstrom is standing in for executive director Naomi Sadighi, who is out on maternity leave. A relief fund likely will get underway this week. The nonprofit accepts donations online at smallsums.org/donate.
A fire department spokesman did not return messages Monday about the fire’s cause.
