Community market fundraiser offers hope to families in need

Gina Centauro, founder of the nonprofit Rescuing Families, gets excited at the end of every Rescuing Families fundraiser, like the community market they will host on Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“It’s really a relief, because every dollar for us really makes a difference, because we’re such a small charity,” Centauro said.

Rescuing Families raises money for and donates time to renovate houses and other places to make them more accessible for the people who live in them. At the market, there will be hand-crafted goods, treats like cookies and decorative cakes, thrift and yard sale style booths and direct marketing vendors like Tupperware.

“We have a lot of hand crafted, which is where we’re trying to head with this marketplace,” Centauro said. “We’re trying to keep it predominantly thrift and hand crafted.”

Other businesses will set up in the lot too. The Everything Wings Food Truck and Iron Chef Food Truck will be in attendance for those who crave a tasty treat. Two pet adoption centers will have booths with potential pets for people to see. Woofie's mobile pet groomer will also be there.

There will also be a Halloween Pet Parade costume contest, cohosted by a local groomer from 12-2 p.m.

The Pet Parade will award prizes such as Amazon gift cards and pet toys to the winners in four categories: funniest, scariest, most creative and best overall winner. This is the first year that Rescuing Families has hosted community markets — twice per month since May.

This community market fundraiser will support both the Reyes Family and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2718, also known as the VFW. The Reyes Family includes a 43-year-old man who became paraplegic at 18 years old. Renovations will help make their home more accessible for his needs. Centauro said the VFW needs a complete remodel: plumbing, electrical, flooring, new bathrooms, new kitchen, new bar area and more.

“It hasn’t been renovated since the 1960s,” Centauro said. “It really needs a facelift.”

Other construction companies donate their time too: one from Pennsylvania and one from southern New Jersey. The local electrical union and the plumbing council of Long Island also donate their services.

“The renovations are very costly, as anybody would know,” Centauro said. “Everything has gone up, including building materials. It’s very challenging for us sometimes. So we’re always excited after a fundraiser to see how much we’ve raised.”

Most of their fundraising comes from private donations and large companies giving them grants like National Grid and Keller-Williams in Franklin Square. Bingo nights also help Rescuing Families raise money for their efforts. These happen three to four times per year, with a Halloween bingo night on Oct. 27.

There will be 12 to 15 volunteers and 200 to 500 attendees at the community market. Centauro believes this market will be on the larger side, with an attendance total closer to 500 people. Currently, 52 vendors have signed up so far. The vendors keep their profits, while vendor fees go to the Rescuing Families fundraiser. Funds are also raised by the two Rescuing Families thrift tents, with all items donated by volunteers and members of the community.

The community market will be on Oct. 14, in the Municipal Parking Lot on Lincoln Road in Franklin Square next to the VFW Post 2718, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.