Lawrence Rotary - Local Philanthropy - LRC Assists Fire Victims

About 150 people were left homeless in Lawrence, Mass. as a massive blaze that started in an empty downtown nightclub early Monday (Jan. 22nd) quickly spread through 15 buildings, including apartments and a home for the mentally disabled.

The City of Gloucester recently recovered from a similar incident where the Rotary Club of Gloucester lodged a clothing and furniture drive to help the homeless victims. Their efforts were so successful; they were left with a warehouse filled with clothing and furniture. When they heard of the Lawrence fire, their Board of Directors voted to donate all the remaining materials to Lawrence.

Josh Arnold, Director for Community Service of the Gloucester Rotary Club contacted Frank Firicano, President of the Lawrence Rotary Club to arrange for the transfer.

A truckload of clothing was immediately dispatched to the Saunders School, the location assigned by Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan as the dedicated site for the fire victims to claim any clothing, food, furniture, household appliances, or just about anything that was being donated on their behalf.

The challenge was to transfer approximately 4 truckloads of furniture and household accessories to Lawrence.

Lawrence president Frank Firicano obtained assistance from nearby Raytheon Corporation who offered a 48’ tractor-trailer and driver. The Essex County Correctional Facility offered 8 inmates and a Corrections Officer to handle the furniture from Gloucester to Lawrence (in the pouring rain).

Pic. L-R Josh Arnold,Will Dionne, Bill Gallagher (Raytheon)

At the same time, a benevolent homeowner (living in Florida), who had just sold his oceanfront property in Gloucester, donated the entire contents of his home to this cause as well. Harrington Moving and Storage of Andover sent two trucks and 4 workers to transfer the furniture while Rotarians Frank Firicano & Will Dionne packed all the silverware, dishes and appliances into cartons.

“I’m overwhelmed by the level of assistance and cooperation from the business community in assisting with tragedies such as this," says Lawrence President Firicano. “Even the local U-Haul dealer offered a free rental truck for this activity, which we didn’t need. They then gave us the cartons to pack the household goods.”

“This is just another wonderful example of the generosity and mutual cooperation by the local Rotary Clubs and their members who continuously live and respond by the Rotary motto “Service Above Self”.