Hand extended to fire victims

Richard Tedesco

Friends and neighbors of Christine Gunshinan’s family filled Memories Bar & Grill in Williston Park on Sunday afternoon for a fundraiser to help the family whose Foxcroft Avenue house in Albertson was largely destroyed in an early morning fire nearly three weeks ago.

“Good karma comes around and so does bad karma,” said Eileen Braun, a neighbor of the Gunshinans who organized the event. “I can’t imagine this happening to any family. This community has to show some support for the family.”

Braun said after coming up with the idea for a fundraiser she approached Al Olivera, owner of Memories, who readily agreed to play host for the event.

Friends from St. Aidan Church, where Gunshinan is an active parish member, had already donated clothing for Gunshinan, her fiancé and her two sons.

On Sunday, a steady stream of good neighbors, including many who had never met the Gunshinans before, paid $25 at the door and also donated for a 50/50 raffle that was part of the event.

The atmosphere was upbeat, with two bands performing during the four-hour fundraiser.

Olivera said he didn’t think twice about making the bar and grill at 121 Hillside Ave. available for the event, and donating beer, wine, soda and his staff, to help out.

“We all have to help out each other,” he said.

Memories was already crowded by the time Gunshinan and her family arrived, about an hour after the event started, and she was visibly moved by the turnout.

“It’s overwhelming. There are people from all over who came,” she said.

Gunshinan and her fiancé, who were asleep in the house on Foxcroft Road in Albertson at the time of the fire, escaped unhurt. Her two sons were not home at the time. The family lost most of its belongings in the fire, which is being investigated as “suspicious,” according to Nassau County Police. 

Williston Park resident Tina Revelant, was drawing an enthusiastic response as she circulated through Memories to collect money for the raffle.

“As soon as it happened, we wanted to come to support a good family and help them out,” Revelant said.

Port Washington resident Dave Franklin heard about the event and enlisted the help of musicians he knows to provide live entertainment for free.

“I called some friends who are musicians and they said, ‘What time and where?’,” Franklin said. “When people are in trouble, you help out.”

Local merchants who donated food and supplies for the event, including Vincent’s Pizza, Da Angelo’s Pizza, Cedarhurst Paper, Parkway Deli, Dominic’s Deli, Positions, Frantoni’s Pizza, Gino’s Pizza, Angelina’s Pizza and Staples in New Hyde Park.

Much of the support for the event resulted from word of mouth among member of the Mineola School District PTAs and two Mineola Board of Education trustees came out to support the stricken family.

“It’s the right thing to do,” said Trustee Christine Napolitano. “If it happened to my family, I would hope people would do the same thing.”

Artie Barnett, who was elected trustee on the Mineola School Board in May, said he was there to support the family and the school district.

“I kind of know what it’s like to get burned out of your home,” said Barnett, a retired New York City firefighter.

Mineola Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira was also at Memories on Sunday. He said he had taught both of Gunshinan’s sons in his history classes at Mineola High School. One of them graduated this year, and Pereira recalled his senior project focused on raising money for people in other countries who had no sources of water in their communities.

“I think it’s fitting that the people should show them some appreciation. I just wanted to be here to support the family,” Pereira said.

Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink also made an appearance at Memories to show his support for the family that resides in his district.

“It’s a terrible situation and it’s such a good cause, I had to come down,” Wink said.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to help the Gunshinans can do so through the following PayPal link online: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=45JX9K9PVBT5A.

Let us know what you think by tweeting @theislandnow1 using #gunshinanfundraiser

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