thedrifter
12-23-07, 06:30 AM
Marines give toys to fire-stricken family
Sean Dobbin and Stephanie Veale
Staff writers
(December 23, 2007) — A Rochester family left homeless after a fire destroyed much of their Maryland Street home received toys Saturday from the U.S. Marine Corps' "Toys for Tots" program.
1st Sgt. Paul Singer, a Marine who's also a member of the Rochester Fire Department, responded to the fire late Wednesday and later arranged for toys to be distributed to the six children of the Russell family.
"You're seeing all the kids' clothes and the Christmas toys, and some of them got destroyed," Singer said. "And it's six days before Christmas and the kids don't know if they're going to have Christmas or not."
When the fire began Wednesday night, the house at 139 Maryland St. was filled with gifts for Jennifer Russell's six children, as well as presents for relatives expected to visit on Christmas day, said Jennifer Russell's mother, JoAnn Russell. The Russells were renting the house.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to the Rochester Fire Department.
The blaze displaced JoAnn Russell, who was staying with her daughter, as well as Jennifer Russell and the children, who range in age from 5 months to 9 years old. The children include infant twins.
Three dogs, four cats and several pet birds died in the fire, and all the Christmas presents were lost.
"Everything that we had done for three, four months — it was there, and then it was gone," JoAnn Russell said.
Singer called the Marine Operations Support Center the morning after the fire and reserved toys for the Russell family.
"The most important thing is, everyone's out and they're safe," Singer said. "I've got a 6 year old and 1 month old...so this is kind of a personal thing. It hits close to home."
The Russells' Christmas morning get-together won't take place on Maryland Street, but the family still plans to spend the holiday together.
"More than anything, this year we need to celebrate life, and we need to remember all of the people that have been good to us," JoAnn Russell said.
The Russells are staying at the Greece home of Jennifer Russell's fiancé, Larry Zubert, JoAnn Russell said.
They have received help from the American Red Cross, Channel 10, schools in Greece and School 57 in Rochester, in addition to the Marines, she said.
SDOBBIN@DemocratandChronicle.com
STVEALE@DemocratandChronicle.com
Ellie
Sean Dobbin and Stephanie Veale
Staff writers
(December 23, 2007) — A Rochester family left homeless after a fire destroyed much of their Maryland Street home received toys Saturday from the U.S. Marine Corps' "Toys for Tots" program.
1st Sgt. Paul Singer, a Marine who's also a member of the Rochester Fire Department, responded to the fire late Wednesday and later arranged for toys to be distributed to the six children of the Russell family.
"You're seeing all the kids' clothes and the Christmas toys, and some of them got destroyed," Singer said. "And it's six days before Christmas and the kids don't know if they're going to have Christmas or not."
When the fire began Wednesday night, the house at 139 Maryland St. was filled with gifts for Jennifer Russell's six children, as well as presents for relatives expected to visit on Christmas day, said Jennifer Russell's mother, JoAnn Russell. The Russells were renting the house.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to the Rochester Fire Department.
The blaze displaced JoAnn Russell, who was staying with her daughter, as well as Jennifer Russell and the children, who range in age from 5 months to 9 years old. The children include infant twins.
Three dogs, four cats and several pet birds died in the fire, and all the Christmas presents were lost.
"Everything that we had done for three, four months — it was there, and then it was gone," JoAnn Russell said.
Singer called the Marine Operations Support Center the morning after the fire and reserved toys for the Russell family.
"The most important thing is, everyone's out and they're safe," Singer said. "I've got a 6 year old and 1 month old...so this is kind of a personal thing. It hits close to home."
The Russells' Christmas morning get-together won't take place on Maryland Street, but the family still plans to spend the holiday together.
"More than anything, this year we need to celebrate life, and we need to remember all of the people that have been good to us," JoAnn Russell said.
The Russells are staying at the Greece home of Jennifer Russell's fiancé, Larry Zubert, JoAnn Russell said.
They have received help from the American Red Cross, Channel 10, schools in Greece and School 57 in Rochester, in addition to the Marines, she said.
SDOBBIN@DemocratandChronicle.com
STVEALE@DemocratandChronicle.com
Ellie