McHENRY – Kelly Baehne stood in the northwest corner of the Chauncey H. Duker School gym, her expression a bit dazed as she surveyed the room.

It was 11 a.m. Saturday, midway into what was supposed to be a two-hour collection of clothing, money and other necessities for three District 15 families who lost everything in a downtown fire in McHenry on Thursday.

Throughout the gym, about 125 people carried and sorted ever-mounting piles of clothing, toys and more. Everywhere one looked, paper and plastic grocery bags, garbage bags, even repurposed diaper boxes brimmed with sweaters, socks, pants, jackets ... someone even delivered a water bed.