Fire at Goodwill store threatens holiday for the needy

MACON - A Goodwill store that planned to give away Christmas gifts to the needy now needs donations of its own. <br> <br> A fire at a Macon Goodwill store has destroyed $10,000 in toys, clothes and household items. <br> <br> The Tuesday night fire struck a downtown Macon Goodwill Emporium just as it was stocking up on low-cost items for families of modest means. <br> <br> Earlier this week, the store sent $500 worth of vouchers to poor families who could exchange the vouchers for Christmas gifts. <br> <br> The fire broke out in the rear of the store, and the smoke set off sprinklers that ruined all the merchandise that had been dropped off that day. <br> <br> Police say the fire may have been started by vagrants. A nook behind the store is protected from the wind, and sometimes homeless people head there when it&#39;s cold and start fired to keep warm. <br> <br> Goodwill officials ask people to donate unwanted toys and clothes to replace the lost merchandise.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/11/187196