A collective effort has been launched to raise money and household items for the family of Troy Lewis, who lost five of his seven children in a fire last Friday.

The drive is seeking donations of clothing, household items and toiletries to help remaining members of the family. Those items may be brought to the office of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, 67 8th Av. NE, Minneapolis or the school district's Davis Center, 1250 Broadway Av. Checks may be made payable to the federation.

The union, district and Council Member Blong Yang announced the effort on Saturday. Two of the dead children attended Bethune Community School.