It is never easy for a family to deal with the aftermath of a house fire. As a result, a local organization and a nearby church are holding a fundraiser to help the families.
Tasty Ladies of NY will host the fire relief event for the three families that were displaced after a fire destroyed a three-story home at 3550 E. Tremont Avenue on Sunday, May 1.
According to residents, the house fire began after one of the walls caught fire from a lit candle, although this has not been confirmed as no investigation has yet to be conducted.
The fire eventually spread through the three apartments as well as Taqueria Lupita, a Mexican restaurant located on the first floor.
The families, each with at least two children, are temporarily staying with relatives as they wait for repairs to take place.
As a result, Bailey Provetto, founder and owner of the Tasty Ladies of NY, is holding a fire relief event to help the families get back on their feet.
“As one of the organizers of the fundraiser, I am trying my best to collect as much money as possible to support these families,” said Provetto, who is working with St. Benedict’s Church to raise funds. “I really hope that many donations are made even if those who donated don’t personally know the family or don’t have much to give – because every little bit helps.”
St. Benedict Church, located at 2969 Otis Avenue, along with the Tasty Ladies of NY, held an initial fundraiser for one of the three families’ units that were damaged.
Shortly after, however, Charity Cintron, mother of two sons, suggested that there should be a bigger fundraiser including all three families who were affected. Cintron, who lived on the first floor, modestly claimed that her apartment was the least damaged, affected only by water.
The situation in the homes of Loren DiVico and Rebecca Borrero was more severe, as a majority of the fire was centered on the second and third floors.
“I tried to put the fire out right away when I saw it, but by that time, it was too large and out of control,” said DiVico, who burned her hand when she tried to pull her pocketbook out of the inferno unsuccessfully.
“It doesn’t really matter (referring to the pocketbook) because material items mean nothing compared to loved ones – and in my case it was my children and my dog.”
DiVico, a single mom raising four kids, claims that she felt uncomfortable weeks before the incident when the building’s landlord received a summons from the Fire Department for an empty fire extinguisher and an inaccessible fire escape after she informed him of the deficiencies multiple times.
When he continued to ignore the safety issues, she confronted him – still to no avail.
A few weeks later, three families are piecing their lives back together the best way they can. This fundraiser should help make this extremely difficult process just a little easier.
The event will start at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 28 at the Locust Point Civic Center, 3300 Tierney Place. Donations are $20 per person and children under 10 can attend for free.
A buffet will be donated by local restaurants and music entertainment will be provided by Elvis impersonator. All proceeds will be donated to the victims.
To donate to the effort, call Provetto at (917) 693-1133.
