Families of gas explosion victims and church officials seek monetary donations

For the first time since last week's gas explosion on Labyrinth Road, families of the two people killed addressed the media together for the first time.

DURING A JOINT PRESSCONFERENCE.

AS WMAR 2 NEW'SDAVE DETLING REPORTS THEY'REWORKING WITH THE EMPOWERMENTTEMPLE CHURCH TO HELP WITHFUNERAL SERVICES.Over the past week wecountless ways people havehelped this community and Thefamilies impacted by Mondaygas explosion.

Now people at 7olocation here at theempowerment Temple Church andgive anything they can.

FORTHE FIRST TIME WEFROM CHALA GRAHAMOF MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITYSTUDENT JOSEPH GRAHAM.

HE WASONE OF THE VICTIMLAST WEEKS GAS EXPLOSION ONLABYRINTH ROAD.

This has beensuch a difficult time for myfamily and I.

We appreciateall the love and support thhas come our way over the pastweek.

This is just so hard ...I would never never imagine.HARD FOR MANY REASONSALSO BECAUSE SHE AND HERFAMILY ARE ASKING FOR MONETARHELP TO PAY FOR JOSEPHFUNERAL AFTER AN INSURANCEPOLICY MESSUP.

My sister,, myprayer, my wish is is thatshe, if she hast to see herbaby boy in a casket, that sheis able to see him in thefashion that we all knew wasgoing to be and thatwe want that sto be asbeautiful as possible.

ITFEAT THAT&FEAT THAT&YIN PARTFEAT THAT&Y TFEAT THAT&Y THEFEAT THAT&Y THE EFEAT THAT&Y THE EMPFEAT THAT&Y THE EMPOWFEAT THAT&Y THE EMPOWERFEAT THAT&Y THE EMPOWERMETE PARTTEMPARTTEMPLETTEMPLE CTEMPLE CHUTEMPLE CHURCTEMPLE CHURCHTHE BEGINNINGFOR FUNERAL COSTS.

NOW WORKINGWITH THE FAMILY OF LONNIEHERRIOTKILLED IN THE EXPLOSIONCHURCH IS ASKING FOR ONLINEDONATIONS.

ITCAN DONATE AT ITFROM 7 TO 8 TONIGHT.

We wantto ensure that the communitycan come together so that wecan help support family, thfamily and these familiesmourn the loss of their lovedones in the ways of theirchoosing and the way thatdignified and presents theirloved ones in the light and inthe way which they were.

Icannot afford it.

I could notafford to put my sister awaand she deserves it.

SHIRLEYWASHINGTON, LONNIE HERRIOTSISTER SAYS LOSING HER SISTERHAS BEEN DIFFICULTTHE EMOTIONAL TOLLACCESSING SOMETHING OFLONNIEBECOME IMPOSSIBLE.

I havenbeen able to even get in herapartment to get any clothes,because I donlandlord, so you know, theynot just going to let astranger in her home so Istill have to get clothes andeverything for the funeral andIEMPOWERMENT CHURCH COULDN'TSAY HOW MUCH ITTHE FAMILIESMORE THAN 5 THOUSAND DOLLARS.We are standing with them andregardless of what happens,Empowerment Temple will ensurethere there is a home goingcelebration that is,celebrates the lives of thesetwo individuals.

And one thingis for sure The EmpowermentTemple Church says that tfuneral services will be hereat this location.

In NorthwestBaltimore, Dave Detling, WMAR2 News.WHILE THE CAUSE OF THEEXPLOSION HASN'T BEENDETERMINED ..

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