The heartbreak felt across London after the Grenfell Tower fire left community members feeling broken and angry. Nevertheless, the community came together to help the victims of the 24-story apartment fire.

In the days follwoing, volunteers from across the U.K. donated their time and money to help those affected begin the recovery process. Volunteers provided basic necessities for residents who had been misplaced, something they felt the government was failing to do. When community members felt that the government wasn’t fulfilling its responsibility, they stepped up to fill the gap.

The community coming together went beyond just providing resources, it also meant providing support. The night following the fire people held a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the fire. While it could not bring back those who were lost or heal the injured, it showed that the community would come together to support those who had suffered loss.

As mentioned, the overwhelming response by community members was anger towards the government. People joined together to protest how the government handled the fire and the lack of precautionary measures taken. The protest may divide citizens and government, but a large demonstration of people who stood up for a cause is the best example of the impact of a community coming together.

While the community will need more time to recover, coming together equals action. The action that comes out of the different demonstrations and volunteering efforts will provide the support that will allow the community to heal.

How has your community come together in time of need? Let us know in the comments or using #stepupmagazine.