Mira Wassef Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Two local charities are asking Staten Islanders to assist the families displaced by the four-alarm fire that ripped through townhouses in Rossville Monday afternoon.
The Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund has created a Rossville fire fund with the hopes of raising $10,000 to help the six families displaced by the fire.
The non-profit has launched on online campaign at its website www.binifund.org where companies and individuals can make donations via credit card, and anyone interested in making a donation via phone should dial 718-412-1851.
“We’re putting out a call to all Staten Islanders to band together and help these families rebuild their lives,” said Massimo DiDonna, president of the Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund. “We are aiming to raise $10,000 which will be evenly distributed to the families in Rossville, and of course if more is raised than more will be disbursed.”
Guyon Rescue is collecting toys, clothes and shoes for the families, according to co-founder Derek Tabacco’s Facebook page. The organization is asking donors to label bags by size and gender.
The items can be dropped off Wednesday at the non-profit’s offices at 575 Mill Road from 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Pick-ups cal also be arranged by contacting Tobacco at GuyonRescue@gmail.com or at 917-596.2552.
“We’ve been collecting clothing but toiletries is the biggest need right now,” Tabacco said.
The blaze broke out at 134 Hampton Pl., then spread to three other homes before it was brought under control. Sixteen firefighters suffered injuries in the two-hour battle to contain the inferno that started at around 4 p.m.
