Monongahela business launches fundraiser for explosion victims
A Monongahela business launched a fundraiser to benefit employees of the U.S. Steel Clairton Works after Monday’s explosion at the plant that killed two and injured at least another 10.
Michelle DeHosse, owner of Sparkles by Shell, will have a number of items available for purchase, with all proceeds to be donated to United Steelworkers Local 1557, which will distribute funds directly to affected employees and their families.
Orders are being taken for the Items bearing the “Clairton Strong” logo include men’s and women’s T-shirts, hoodies, crewneck sweatshirts and yard signs.
DeHosse said she was approached by friend Heather Gwaley of Donora, who works at Jefferson Hospital, about creating the community-driven campaign. DeHosse said Gwaley’s father worked at Clairton Works.
“She reached out and wanted to know if I could fit in a fundraiser for Clairton, and I told her, absolutely,” DeHosse said. “We just needed to make sure where the money was going, because there are too many people involved for me to be able to track down everybody who should get some of this.”
This is the third T-shirt fundraiser the duo has initiated, with previous efforts raising funds for fallen paramedic Matthew Smelser of Charleroi, who was killed in 2020 while responding to an accident, and the Elrama Tavern, which was destroyed in a 2022 fire.
“I was born and raised in the Mon Valley, and this is a coal and steel area,” DeHosse said. “You either know somebody in the coal mines or you know somebody in the steel mills or both. It hits close to home.”
The first round of orders will go into production after Aug. 25. Orders can be placed at clairtonstrong.itemorder.com, by calling 724-310-3990 or by visiting Sparkles by Shell at its new location, 600 Park Ave., Suite C, in Monongahela. Items other than yard signs can be shipped directly or picked up at the store.
As of Thursday afternoon, 848 pieces had been ordered.
“Within the first 45 minutes of me opening the website, we had gone over 200 pieces,” DeHosse said.