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By Fatima Ortega Guevara
A Long Island non-profit organization called Uplift Our Towns has gathered over $1,000 worth of clothing to assist families who lost their homes and belongings in a fire that broke out this winter in a Central Islip apartment complex.
Left with only the clothes on their backs, these families found themselves without extra outfits during the coldest months of the year.
On Jan. 14, a fire tore through the Hawthorne Living Complex, affecting 24 units, most of which were completely destroyed by fire or water damage. Five families were displaced, either seeking shelter with relatives or at the Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge. A total of 16 people — eight adults and eight children — lost everything in the blaze. Children as young as three had no extra clothing to keep warm during the harsh winter weather. While some families have started moving back into the complex, many are still recovering.
Linda Corrado, a secretary for Uplift Our Towns, was driving by the complex on the day of the fire when she saw the fire trucks and the devastation outside. Realizing the urgency of the situation, she knew she had to act to “fill the gap” and support those affected.
Founded in 2016 by Herbie Medina, Marcos Maldonado, and Miguel Turell, Uplift Our Towns initially aimed to reopen the Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood. Over the years, their mission has expanded to making positive changes in local communities, focusing on Brentwood, Central Islip, and North Bay Shore.
On Jan. 18, Uplift Our Towns made a social media post requesting donations for the affected families. Working with Central Islip District social worker Chris Carlozzo and Katelyn Hara-Moss, head of reference services at the Central Islip Public Library, Corrado set up a donation bin at the library. This made it easy for people to contribute, and Corrado said it greatly facilitated the collection of clothing.
Many people, including the library staff, dropped off new and gently used clothing. Thanks to these donations, families were able to get essential items like coats and snow boots for their children.
Over the course of two weeks, clothes and gift cards were donated. “I’m always blown away by how much good there is in humanity,” said Corrado. By the end of the week, Corrado and Carlozzo collected 11 bags of donations from the library, which were then distributed to the families in need.
Brian Lee, Associate Pastor of Lighthouse Tabernacle Church of God, expressed his gratitude for the community’s response to the donations. “I was in awe of the community’s response to this situation,” said Pastor Lee.
He and other church members set up a donation bin at Lighthouse Tabernacle, partnering with other churches to raise both monetary and clothing donations. In total, 10 to 12 families received assistance from the church.
The response at Lighthouse Tabernacle exceeded Pastor Lee’s expectations, leaving a surplus of donations. Many community members contributed items like clothing, toys, and gift cards. “It was a great time to help our community,” said Pastor Lee. The church will host a community day in March, where they will distribute the remaining donations.
Taking their efforts even further, Lighthouse Tabernacle helped some families from the complex who had no place to stay. Lacking relatives or renters’ insurance, these families received financial assistance from the church to secure temporary housing until they could return to their apartments.
While the donation bin at the library is now closed, Uplift Our Towns is still accepting donations. Anyone interested in contributing can email @upliftourtowns or message them on Facebook or Instagram. Uplift Our Towns is also hosting its 15th Annual Clean Streets Project on May 17 at Applebee’s in Brentwood (300 Motor Parkway). Everyone is welcome to RSVP on their website.
Donation drop-off bin full of clothes in the lobby of the Central Islip Public Library. Photo courtesy Linda Corrado.
Top photo: Linda Corrado and Chris Carlozzo stand beside bags of donated clothes. Photo courtesy Linda Corrado.
Fatima Ortega Guevara is a reporter with the SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program.
