A tragic W.H. fire brings help and friendship

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Several weeks after a fire on Hempstead Turnpike in West Hempstead burned her apartment and belongings, Towanda Glover was working at her cashier job at Kings supermarket in Garden City, one of two jobs she has to make ends meet. Melissa Monteleone, a West Hempstead resident and student at SUNY Old Westbury, approached her register to make a purchase. “We got to talking and she mentioned her situation,” said Monteleone. “I didn’t know what to do. I was shaken and speechless,” she said.

During their conversation, Glover recounted the fire, telling her how the Red Cross had put up families affected by the fire at the Ramada Inn in Rockville Centre, but couldn’t provide any more help afterward.

She told her of her dealings with the Department of Social Services, which offered to put her and her children in a shelter, but she didn’t wish to go there, and had trouble finding a place to stay.

“I can’t imagine going through all of this and then going to work,” said Monteleone, who became inspired. She began gathering clothes for Glover and her children, and then started helping her find an apartment. She rallied her co-workers at the Ford automotive dealership in Hempstead, to contribute money to helping Glover, and then started a GoFundMe website to help with that effort.

It’s an effort Glover truly appreciates. “She’s taking time out of her busy schedule, she goes to school and she works. It’s amazing, and I’m truly grateful for her and all that she’s doing because I see that she’s doing it from her heart,” she added.

In addition to her two jobs — Glover also works as a lunch monitor for the Stewart Avenue School in Garden City — she was taking classes at the AHRC so that she begin a third job working with the developmentally disabled children. “I was supposed to start working there, but I need a stable place for my kids to stay first,” said Glover, who is now living with her sister. “I needed to call and tell them to please excuse me while I find a place for my family.”

If you are interested in providing help to Glover and her family, donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/2vkgju2c.

West Hempstead’s various PTAs are also collecting funds for the Glovers and other families affected by the fire and sending funds directly to the high school. To contribute to the West Hempstead PTA’s effort, contact the school’s assistant principal, Michelle Lambro-Maron at mlambo@whufsd.com or 516-390-3100.