As John Lechlitner watched as firefighters battled a blaze at a neighbouring building early Tuesday morning.
Lechlitner, the owner of Cecil's Brewhouse and Kitchen in the 100 block of Main Street East, was stunned as the building across the street from his business was completely destroyed.
The Cedar Tree Restaurant and Deluxe Custom Tattoos businesses were destroyed while above them six apartments were also levelled by the fire.
The North Bay Fire Department confirmed eight adults and three children lived in the six apartments that are now in a burnt pile of ruin. Greg Saunders, deputy fire chiefs added that four adults and three children have secured accommodations.
Lechlitner admits he knows a couple of the tenants of those apartments personally, so he felt compelled to try and do something to help.
"It's one of those things when we first heard about the fire and I was in my office at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, I thought, 'wow those are people's lives that have gone up in smoke,'" said Lechlitner.
So Lechlitner decided to create a Pasta Fundraiser at this restaurant. The event will take place on Thursday, April 4 starting at 4 p.m.
He says 100 per cent of the money raised will go to those displaced tenants.
"I look at all the kind of disasters that happen, if it is a flood, stuff can sometimes be dried out and those memories saved. However, in a fire, there is no saving something like that," he said.
"I figured we could donate a bit of money, or we can take that money we would donate and how do we turn that into something bigger that we can get people engaged downtown, raise more money, that can go directly to the tenants.
"This is not for the two businesses, nothing against them, but they still have a home to go to."
See related: Cedar Tree: 'We may never know the cause'
Lechlitner hopes this initiative is a sign that the downtown sticks together.
"We want them to see it is a vibrant place," he said.
"Fundraising has to start on a personal level, we should not always turn to government, this is people helping people. To me the government side did their job, the fire department did an amazing job of keeping that fire from spreading."
Donna Backer, the president of the North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce believes this is a great community initiative.
"I appreciate the tremendous love and support the community has for each other in times of devastation and need," she stated through social media.
"John, Dawn and the Cecil's Brewhouse and Kitchen crew took action right away and put compassion first. John called me right away and told me about their plan to assist and I am right next to him to help any way.
"Put this event in your calendar and support those tenants who lost all their belongings yesterday."
The cost of the eat-in dinner is $15 and it includes spaghetti, meatballs and a beverage. For more details go HERE.
