Community Holds Fundraiser for Albertson Family Who Lost Home

Usually you don’t think that good can ever come out of so much destruction.

After the Gunshinan’s Albertson home was , which was deemed ‘suspicious’ by police, the family ended up staying with relatives, wondering when they would ever sleep under their own roof again.

It was shortly after the blaze that members of the larger community formed the Friends of Foxcroft – named for the street the family lived on – in order to help raise funds to help in any way they could.

This past Sunday the group put together a 4-hour fundraiser for the family at Memories Pub on Hillside Avenue in Williston Park with the help of numerous local businesses.

Memories supplied the venue as well as drinks while food was provided by Angelina’s, Da Angelo’s, , Frantoni’s, Gino’s, IHOP, Parkway Deli, Positano’s and Vincent’s Pizza. Other businesses donated funds as well.

Entrance fees of $25 were collected to help support the family while a 50/50 raffle was held for a specially-made quilt by Ronnie Medina, a friend of the family who has known them for over half her life.

“It’s just another way of raising money,” said Christine Medina, Ronnie’s sister. “It’s whatever we could get ready in two weeks.”

The group had also reached out to Dave Franklin, who also MC’d the event and gathered all the musicians together, including “The Boyz and The Mike Nugent Band,” even though he didn’t know the family.

“I did it just to help out,” he said. “We’re all in this together. If we help out a little, the world will be a little better.”

According to Franklin, the bands both came out and played despite not knowing the family without question. “We came out just because Dave asked,” said Mike Nugent of The Mike Nugent Band.

“I try to do benefits if I can,” the band’s drummer, Ian Petillo, said. “It’s my way of giving back.”

Even the venue owner, Al Oliviera, helped out despite not knowing the family. “I just think that’s what life should be,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you know people or not, you just have to help them.”

All proceeds – totalling $5,023 – went directly to the family. Additional donations may be made via PayPal by clicking here.