PEABODY — A local business owner is organizing a fundraiser for the students and their families that were affected by last Thursday’s fire. The fundraiser is on Thursday, Nov. 14 from 2-7 p.m. at the McDonald’s on 133 Main St.

Twenty percent of all dine-in, drive thru, and mobile order sales will go towards helping the dozens of people who were left without a home by the devastating blaze last week.

Peabody has seen an outpouring of support from the community in the week since the fire on 100 Main St. The Department of Health announced Tuesday they had met their capacity for clothing donations only days after asking the public for their help. With the generosity of the city and its inhabitants, these families have started the process of getting their lives back on track.

Now, with Thursday’s fundraiser, residents have another opportunity to give back while getting a meal in the process. 

Lindsay Willian, owner of nine McDonald’s in the North Shore area, didn’t hesitate to spearhead an event that would benefit the families going through tragedy.

“When I heard the news about the fire, my first thought was, ‘How can I help?’ Using my restaurant to bring people together to help raise money for those affected was a no-brainer,” she said. 

A resident of Lynnfield, locals will know Willian is no stranger to using her business for charitable means. Just last month, two of her locations raised money for Saugus and Lynnfield schools and their sports teams. 

During the height of the pandemic, Willian also implemented an array of strategies to lend her community a hand. For instance, she offered a free cup of coffee to any customer who got the vaccine and gave her employees a $100 incentive for full vaccination. 

“It’s important to me to support the people who live here. I do this consistently throughout the year, fundraising for sports teams, schools and families in need,” Willian said. “Showing up for my community and supporting the people here is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. It’s important to give back.”

Funds raised from the event will go directly to the families of local students whose lives have suddenly been thrown in disarray. “It truly takes a village, and I’m honored to be a part of it and be able to help,” Willian said.

To give to these families beyond Thursday’s McDonald’s event, the City Treasury at Peabody City Hall, 24 Lowell St., is accepting donations of money and gift cards to go into an account set up for the victims. In addition, the city is asking any property owners with vacant rental units to email [email protected].