Friends and family continue to seek the community’s help to support those whose lives were “turned upside down” after rain and flood waters destroyed basements, driveways, yards and roads in Leominster the night of Sept. 11.
Many have turned to GoFundMe to create an account that allows people to securely contribute money to neighbors and strangers. GoFundMe adds a transaction fee of 2.9% of the amount donated plus 30 cents, to offset credit card fees and cover administration costs.
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The night of the Sept. 11 flooding, half of the Ferrer family’s driveway “caved in and took my sons vehicle down the river,” posted Julianne Ferrer in a GoFundMe account called Help Joseph buy a vehicle.
Insurance doesn’t cover “total loss due to the river next to our property,” so Ferrer is asking for help to buy her son, Joseph, a used vehicle.
“Thankfully my son and our family are okay and material things can be replaced but we are shocked, like many others, as we never thought anything like this could happen especially so quickly,” Ferrer wrote.
They have raised $915 of their $8,000 goal in the two days since the account was created.
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Other GoFundMe accounts to benefit those affected by the flooding in Leominster include:
Vazquez Family Emergency Flood Assistance
Ashley Vazquez said within 15 minutes of the storm starting Sept. 11, the basement of the four-family house she and her family live in “was completely under water.”
She organized the GoFundMe to raise money because she does not hold flood insurance, which she now recommends everyone get, therefore, the extensive damage to the property and all of the utilities destroyed in the basement will not be covered. She says her husband is deployed overseas so she is handling the situation herself.
“I am still in disbelief that in 15 minutes, our lives were turned upside down and forever changed,” she wrote.
They have raised almost $8,800 of the $100,000 goal since the account was posted two days ago.
Doggie Day Care Flood Relief Fund
Fidgety Dog Co., at 85 Pleasant St. in Leominster, is a dog day care facility “known and loved by our furry four legged loved ones and their owners,” wrote Suzanne Vogel, the GoFundMe’s organizer.
They have raised $250 of their $10,000 goal in the two days since the account was started. The money will be used to rebuild and “restore this magical, thoughtful innovative home for our dogs and future pups!”
Deployed U.S. Soldier’s Home Flooded
The Vasquez family needs help repairing its Leominster home. Cory Vasquez, a MEDEVAC pilot with the Massachusetts Army National Guard based in Westfield, is currently deployed, according to a GoFundMe account set up by Wesley LeBlanc.
Vasquez’s wife and daughter “were impacted drastically during the floods in Leominster,” as well as other families in their multi-family home.
Almost $8,300 of the $30,000 goal in the day since the account was started. The money will be used to address “thousands of dollars worth of damage.”
Robert Lee Post-Flood Rebuild
A colleague set up a GoFundMe account to help Robert Lee, who “has been a special education instructor at our local high school for many years.”
Organizer Andrea Grimes said that in addition to structural damage to Lee’s home, Lee and his family lost many things with sentimental value and “a number of appliances were destroyed and other high-priced items like a snow blower.”
They have raised about $1,200 of the $5,000 goal since the account was posted two days ago.
Help Elijah’s Family Rebuild Part of their Home
Although away at school at Bennington College, Elijah De Jesus is trying to help his mom pick up the pieces after flood waters destroyed most of their family home’s basement and garage in Leominster.
“… my grandmother lived in our basement at the time so all of her personal belongings, countless keepsakes she has accumulated and cherished throughout her life were destroyed and won’t be salvaged or monetarily reimbursed,” he wrote in the GoFundMe account.
De Jesus said the family couldn’t afford flood insurance and aren’t “necessarily in a ‘flood area,’” so nothing is covered. “Lastly, my mother has worked so incredibly hard to even afford this home for me and my brother, she has sacrificed nearly all of her life for us, and the home was something she was truly proud of.”
They have raised more than $5,000 of their $6,200 goal in the two days the account has been active.
Flood Relief
Gamache Construction hopes to help a 15-year employee recover from the damage the flooding caused in his condo.
“The water came up about 3 ft and left a thick layer of mud over everything as well. Unfortunately His home owners insurance will not cover the cost of this repair or to replace what they lost,” Christopher Gamache, the organizer, wrote on GoFundMe.
The construction company has helped demo the bottom floor and removed everything, Gamache said, but there’s more work to be done and items to be replaced.
They have raised about $4,200 of the $5,000 goal in the three days the account has been up.
- Read more: Here are some GoFundMe campaigns to help Leominster residents impacted by flooding
Here are GoFundMe campaigns highlighted earlier in the week:
The damage to Leominster is expected to cost somewhere between $25-$45 million, Mayor Dean Mazzarella said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Due to flooding and damage, including sinkholes ravaging some streets, Mazzarella said it could be “not days but weeks before streets reopen.”
Elected officials were scheduled to visit key sites throughout the city Saturday to assess the damage.
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, 2nd District for Massachusetts; Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella and state Rep. Natalie Higgins, D-4th Worcester, planned to visit the Emergency Management Center at 11:30 a.m. An hour later, they planned to visit a collapsed business on Spruce Street and at about 1 p.m. they planned to evaluate the damage around railroad tracks near 568 Main St. according to an itinerary provided by McGovern’s office.
- Read more: Leominster floods: 15 unbelievable photos from devastating floods
The mayor previously said that Leominster saw around 11 inches of rain fall, but the National Weather Service’s official count was 9.5 inches. No deaths were reported. But the damage to several buildings and schools led to closures Wednesday.
People can also donate to a flood relief effort organized by the United Way of North Central Massachusetts. Any donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000. To donate, text FLOODRELIEF to 50155 or visit United Way’s flood relief website.
The Leominster Relief Fund is also taking donations. People can send a check made out to the fund or stop by the mayor’s office at 25 West St. to donate by cash or check.
Across social media, another resource referenced by residents is Ginny’s Helping Hand and Food Pantry. The organization posted on Facebook that it was accepting food, “personal items and clothing to help those in our community affected by the floods.” To donate, visit Ginny’s location at 52 Mechanic St.