Updated: Feb. 09, 2023, 8:12 p.m. | Published: Feb. 09, 2023, 7:50 p.m.
By Scott R. Axelrod | saxelrod@siadvance.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Councilman Joseph Borelli is gathering and coordinating gift card donations for the families impacted by a fire that cut through two Annadale homes on Wednesday evening.
From Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the councilman’s district office will be collecting gift cards as well as new clothing and toiletries. The office is located at 2955 Veterans Rd. West, Suite # 2E (second floor).
“What happened to these families is life changing,” Borelli said in a written statement. “In the past, my office has been able to assist other families impacted by fires, thanks to the generosity of our fellow neighbors and several organizations, like the Carl V. Bini Fund and E.C.H.O., who reached out immediately to assist.”
“I thank everyone for your generosity in advance,’’ he said.
For any additional inquiries or questions, call (718) 984-5151 or email at borelli@council.nyc.gov.
The councilman was at the scene of Wednesday’s evening’s two-alarm blaze, which, according to an FDNY official, started at approximately 5:10 p.m. in the rear of a two-story home at 96 Lorrain Ave. before cutting across into the neighboring home at 94 Lorrain Ave.
No injuries were reported in either home, but six firefighters suffered minor injuries before the fire was put under control at around 6:15 p.m., an FDNY spokesman said.
Borelli could be seen speaking with residents and consoling the victims, including 16-year-old Rami Alrjal whose family’s home was devastated by the fire.
“You see things like this on the news and say ‘God help them,’” Alrjal said. “What do we do now?”
A gofundme page established to help aid the Alrjal family rebuild their home has raised over $12,000 as of this writing.