WESTFIELD – Residents of Hampden Village are joing forces to help raise funds for neighbors whose mobile homes were destroyed during the June 23 storm.
Hampden Village residents Ron Contois and Bill Tatro organized a fundraising lunch set for June 30 at 1 p.m. in the Hampden Village Community Center.
For a $5 donation, lunch includes a hot dog, chips and soda. A raffle will take place for an additional cost.
Contois and Tatro said they just wanted to help their friends.
“I am friendly with both homeowners and I hope that if this happened to me people would do the same,” Tatro said
The two mobile homes were condemned by Building Superintendent Jon Flagg, who said he had no option other than to condemn two structures and to declare two others as dangerous because of the extent of damage to them.
Tatro said one homeowner did not plan to return to Hampden Village and the other would remain there once she was able to get a new home.
The funds raised should help the two women with living expenses.
“They need clothes and food – this will help them with what they need right now,” Tatro said.
Tatro said people have been very generous and made donations of money, raffle items and good for the lunch.
“I put this on Facebook Wednesday and I’m amazed at the response,” he said. “Everyone is very generous.”
Contois said while they are asking for a $5 donation for the lunch, “every donation will be greatly appreciated.”
