It is never too late to donate to a cause for safety.

That’s the message Carter County resident Emma Grindstaff is spreading to the public as part of the Safekeeping for Dana and Sara fundraising project to provide rope ladders to upstairs apartments within the Elizabethton Housing & Development Agency.

Over the course of February, Grindstaff has helped spearhead an initiative to bring ladders to the agency in honor of Dana and Sara Keeling — Grindstaff’s daughter and granddaughter who tragically lost their lives over a year ago in an apartment fire at Pine Ridge Circle.

EHDA, the Elizabethton Fire Department and TLC Community Center each partnered up with Grindstaff to make the project possible. Following recent meeting, the groups received clearance from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Grindstaff told the Elizabethton Star that the goal for the project is to raise $4,200, which will cover the cost of the rope ladders — $28 for each of the 150 higher-level units.

“We were able to receive the ladders at a special rate thanks to Big John’s,” Grindstaff told the Elizabethton Star.

With the confirmation from HUD to move forward with the project, Dana has utilized social media platforms, along with the help of the TLC Center, to raise funds to benefit the project.

“February is the month of love,” Grindstaff said. “We appreciate all the support we’ve received for the project and hope that we can see more of the ladders come to the housing agency. ”

Individuals can visit https://www.givesendgo.com/SafekeepingProject#.WnoxlLdMhNF.messenger or search “Safekeeping Project in Honor of Dana and Sara Keeling” on Facebook.

The TLC Community Center is also accepting donations on behalf of the project. Individuals can mail donations to 145 Judge Don Lewis Blvd., Suite 5-7, Elizabethton, TN 37643 and are asked to make a memo on the payment to make sure it is going to the safekeeping project due an account being set up specifically for the funds. Each donation is tax-deductible.