WESTFIELD – A family of 12 is in need after an early morning fire ripped through their Orange Street home Feb. 4.
The Masso family, which includes six adults and six children, are seeking temporary housing, meals, clothing and more and the Westfield Bombers Youth Football community is rallying to help them.
Melanie McNamara, a member of the Westfield Youth Football Board, organized a gofundme page as well as a meal train signup to collect money and food.
“They are overwhelmed both with the devastation and the family friends and community stepping up to help them,” said McNamara. Of the six children, two play tackle football, two play flag football and two are football cheerleaders.
“They are family to Westfield Youth Football,” she said. “My kids have played right alongside theirs for years. We spend almost every day on the fields together, so we are like family.”
McNamara said once they have suitable housing they will need household items, such as small appliances, towels, kitchen ware, furniture and more.
The Masso family of 12, including six children, were displaced in a Feb. 4 fire. (MELANIE MCNAMARA PHOTO)
For now, in addition to the gofundme, donations are being collected at 24B Harvard St. and 141 Colony Dr. Boy’s clothing in size 6, 10 and 12, boy’s shoes in size 12 youth, 1 and 6, girl’s clothing in sizes 7/8, 12, 16 and girl’s shoes sizes 2.5, 4 and 6 are needed. Adult men’s clothing in size extra large and pant size 40/30 and shoe size 12 are needed as well as women’s tops and pants in sizes large and extra large as well as shoes size 7.5 and 11. Donations should be left on the front porch at either address.
To signup to cook a meal, search for The Masso Family on mealtrain.com. To make a monetary donation, visit gofundme.com and search Masso Family Fundraiser.
“Let’s do what Bombernation does best and pull together for some of our own,” said McNamara.
