Benefit concert planned for victims of Cedar-Riverside fire

As a concert gets under way Friday to benefit victims of a New Year's Day fire in Minneapolis, organizers behind the broader relief effort say many of the victims are still searching for permanent housing.

Two relief funds for the victims and their families have so far collected $25,000, but that is short of what organizers hoped to raise, said Amano Dube, director of the Brian Coyle Community Center.

A large chunk of the contributions went to help pay for the burials of three men who died from the blast, Dube said. He said many of the displaced are temporarily staying with family or friends.

"People are finding whatever shelter they can," Dube said. "We're offering to help them get first month's rent, a security deposit, furniture — whatever they need to get their lives together."

His center and others involved with the relief effort have identified 28 individuals who were displaced or injured in the blast, including the three deceased men.

Rob Simonds, executive director of the Cedar Cultural Center, said the organizers of Friday's concert are about halfway to their goal of raising $10,000 for the victims.

"For us, this is just a community responsibility to try to take care of people in need and people who have suffered loss," Simonds said. "If people can't spend $20 on a ticket or can't come out that night, I'd encourage people to donate to the fund to help the victims. It's a pretty tragic situation."

The concert at the Cedar will feature West Bank music legends as well as young Somali-American singers. Acts include Spider John Koerner, the Brass Messengers, and the Cactus Blossoms.

Contributions can also be made through Pillsbury United Communities or the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota.

Minneapolis fire officials are continuing to investigate the blast, which destroyed a building that housed a grocery and apartments.