Jay Street fire spurred help from Catholics

By KATE BLAIN-kate.blain@rcda.org | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

"I'm not feeling too good," Benjamin Morales told The Evangelist.

Mr. Morales is just one of more than 60 tenants displaced after a tragic March 6 fire on Jay Street in Schenectady that killed four people and destroyed two buildings. The cause of the fire was attributed to either a candle, a cigarette or incense that set a resident's recliner ablaze.

A native of Ecuador, Mr. Morales lost the business he's owned for 25 years, Esmeralda Jewelry. Two months after the fire, he still hasn't been allowed inside the gutted building to salvage whatever is left of his equipment and other items. A demolition company found a safe and some other possessions and gave those to him.

"My place [was] not insured," Mr. Morales said. "I lost everything. I kept my business open for 25 years, and in one day, I lost everything."

Parish's help
Catholics are among the thousands of area residents who have stepped in to help residents begin to rebuild their lives. Mr. Morales' parish, St. Joseph's in Schenectady, raised $1,000 for him.

"He's a long-time parishioner," said sacristan Don Penta. "He has two grandchildren he brings to church. The parishioners were the ones who said, 'Hey, let's see what we can do for Benjamin."

Mr. Morales, who'd always hoped to pass his business on to his grandchildren, is looking at new locations for his store. He said he may have found a site in downtown Schenectady, but he'll have to buy all his jewelry-making tools and materials again. His wife, daughter and grandchildren are local, but his extended family lives in Ecuador and is unable to help.

If and when he does reopen, St. Joseph's buildings and grounds committee plans to assist with painting and cleanup at the new location.

"My [parish] community family does nice [things] for me," Mr. Morales said -- but, still, the situation is "a disaster for me."

Team effort
Also in Schenectady, St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish held a second collection that raised $6,500 and collected toys, games and clothing for the fire victims; the items were to be distributed through the Salvation Army.

St. Luke's parish in Schenectady has worked with the Jay Street Fire Recovery Team, a coalition of various organizations providing aid. A special collection at St. Luke's was earmarked for gift cards for the victims to purchase personal and household items; the parish has also teamed up with the Salvation Army to provide donated furniture and household items for free.

In addition, St. Luke's has offered grief counseling and the use of the church for prayer and healing services or funerals and memorial services.

Catholic Charities' role
Catholic Charities' Housing Office for the Albany Diocese had just closed on its first Schenectady property when the Jay Street fire occurred; CCHO immediately provided an apartment for one family, another apartment that was modified to accommodate three individuals, and all the items needed to stock those apartments.

"Our splash into Schenectady housing was just at the right time," said Shannon McLaughlin, CCHO's director of support services.

She noted that losing 60 housing units in the city of Schenectady has only exacerbated a pre-existing need for housing: "Some of the service providers in Schenectady are anxious for us to be able to provide more housing over there."

In the wake of the fire, CCHO also helped victims with paperwork, transportation and gift cards, and coordinated donations from local parishes, food banks, Target stores and the like. Ms. McLaughlin said she and her staff participate in weekly Fire Recovery Team meetings that include the Schenectady Community Action Program, Bethesda House, the Salvation Army, the Legal Aid Society, the Schenectady Foundation and Schenectady County's Office of Community Services and Department of Social Services.

That group has been doing case management for the entire list of displaced households of 100-102 and 104 Jay Street -- and has whittled the number down from about 55 households to 18 as housing is found. A fund managed by the Schenectady Foundation has disbursed funds to the fire victims.

"I meet with or speak to all of our Schenectady tenants weekly," Ms. McLaughlin added. "This was a disaster and we will remain alongside of our wonderful new tenants until the memory of the fire isn't nearly as vivid."[[In-content Ad]]