CENTERVILLE — Donated clothing, blankets, furniture and food on Saturday, Jan. 10, quickly filled the clubhouse at the Villager Apartments, where a three-alarm fire forced residents from their homes Friday, Jan. 9.

There was "barely an inch to move" in the clubhouse after the items overflowed into the fitness center, tanning room and manager's office, said Kristen Bowser, director of community relations for the Connor Group, which owns the complex.

"In our wildest imaginations, in two hours, we didn't think we could get that much stuff," she said of the generous outpouring from the community.

Bowser estimated 150 people came in from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to donate items such as cribs, strollers and diapers. Many also donated hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards and cash, which Bowser said have already been distributed to the 14 impacted residents.

The fire victims were staying in hotels through the weekend, but arrangements were under way Saturday to start moving them into available apartments at the complex.

"By Monday, they should all be in their new homes," Bowser said.

The fire, reported at 7:42 a.m. Friday, was apparently started by a resident cooking chicken and engulfed two buildings in the complex off Far Hills Avenue. Six units were affected, four extensively. No residents were injured, but several did not have renter's insurance.

Bowser said they will continue to accept donations of cash or gift cards at the leasing office for the families, but they cannot accept other donated items because of limited space.

Talegators Italian Oven, 6270 Far Hills Ave., which is in front of the apartment complex, offered the displaced residents free lunch on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant will donate 25 percent of sales from noon to 8 p.m. today to the fire victims, said Rick Feltner, owner of the Italian Oven.

"A lot of our regulars are residents over there," Feltner said Saturday. "It's just really hard for those people who may not have had insurance or waiting on insurance to come through."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2094 or mkissell@DaytonDailyNews.com.