Neighbors helping neighbors.
That’s a slogan that Community Action of Southold Town takes to heart — and this year, they’re gearing up to help the victims of a recent house fire in Peconic get back on their feet.
Proceeds from CAST’s annual “Have a Heart” dinner, which takes place Friday in two seatings, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the community center at Peconic Landing in Greenport, will be donated to the fire victims who were left with nothing after their home was gutted in last week’s devastating blaze.
Reservations can be made by calling the CAST office at 631-477-1717. Seating is limited and costs $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Dinner includes lasagna, vegetarian lasagna, Caesar salad, garlic bread, coffee and dessert. Guests can also enjoy music by Lea Kendall.
“Our neighbors are in need – let’s give them a hand,” CAST said to the community in a release this week.
At least six individuals who lived in the single-family residence, located at 45805 Main Road in Peconic, were left homeless after a fire tore through the 100-year-old structure only hours after a blizzard wreaked havoc on the North Fork last Tuesday, leaving residents stranded in frigid temperatures and fierce winds.
CAST stepped up to help the victims of the fire, kicking off a fund to help. According to Denis Noncarrow, CAST president, both the organization and Bob Tapp, of the North Fork Designer Showhouse in Cutchogue, came together to do whatever they could, including providing clothing and funding.
Tapp contacted CAST, Noncarrow said, and they decided to team up.
Tapp said he and his partner Rick have known one of the victims, Umbaldo Perez, for over 20 years. “He’s a beloved person around the North Fork. Many, many people love him and consider him family and are dependent upon him.”
Besides a full-time job as a custodian at the Our Lady of Mercy Regional School in Cutchogue, Tapp said Perez also works part-time as a custodian at Sea Tow and has a small landscaping/handyman business. “He consistently works 75 hours a week, year after year.”
Even the day after he lost everything in the fire, Perez, who had been out on Nassau Point shoveling snow on the afternoon of the blizzard, was back at work.
“We felt terribly for him,” Tapp said, explaining how the idea was born to start a fund. “If CAST receives a ton of money, that would be such a gigantic gift for each and every one of those people.”
Four local fire departments braved frigid temperatures and fierce winds as they battled the working fire.
The occupants of the two story wood-frame residence were all safely evacuated, Southold First Assistant Chief Jim Rich said. But the home was uninhabitable after the blaze.
The fire was likely started by a wood-burning stove, Southold Fire Chief Peggy Killian said. The fire spread quickly up through the walls to the second story of the 100-year-old home because the home construction included no fire breaks. Firefighters were on scene within a minute and a half of the alarm, Killian said.
More than 100 volunteer firefighters responded to the call, which came in just before 2:15 p.m.,in frigid temperatures and blowing winds.
Noncarrow said CAST was asking the community to come together and help those who’ve lost everything. “When things happen to other people, in your head, you think, ‘What if it was my family, standing out there?’ It’s just absolutely devastating. We’re going to do whatever we can do to help get these people right back where they need to be.”
Those wishing to donate can send checks to CAST, P.O. Box 159, Greenport, NY 11944, with the words “fire victims” in the subject line.
