New Home for Fremont Fire Victim Family

Habitat of Westchester is moving a family displaced by the July apartment house fire in Peekskill into a new Habitat home.

“We live for these days,” said Jim Killoran, Habitat of Westchester CEO. “While others were on vacation last month, Habitat of Westchester and its volunteers, along with its Restore staff, provided more than $25,000 of furniture donated from our RESTORE, to family members and helped move them in.”

Habitat builds throughout the county and has helped with many disasters from Katrina, to fires on Pelham road in NewRochelle to 1,800 Sandy families affected by floods in Mamaroneck, Killoran said.

The fire July 20 in an old 20-unit building on Fremont left 103 homeless.

Within a short time of the Peekskill fire, Habitat staff had set up a warehouse in partnership with Peekskill city officials. Furniture was and is still being distributed, he said.

SEE: Peekskill Firefighters Back on Fremont Dousing Hot Spots

“A family’s life is changed forever from the horrors of a fire and losing everything to owning a new home, a Habitat miracle!” he said. “We want to move familes into Habitat affordable homes every day!”

Speaking of which, Habitat of Westchester needs two brand new cribs and also appreciates financial donations, to help cover its relief costs.

It prepares for its biggest fall yet with its 911 buildathon, the PopeFrancis buidlathon in honor of the Pope’s visit, and its first annual ARMED FORCES BUILDATHON, for vets returning from Iraq. Sponsorships for all still available.

To get involved or help email relief@habitatwc.org or call jim directly at 914 403 4821.

PHOTO: Denise and Francisco Lopes with Jim Killoran of Habitat for Humanity/contributed