By Rachel Kalina
The day after the tragedy, neighbors and other West Hempstead residents were already collecting clothing and items for family members, who lost all of their possessions when their house burned down.
The fire, which police have determined was deliberately set, began at 2 p.m. that Tuesday with a loud explosion. It started in the basement of the Glenwood Avenue home. The body of David Bhola, 44, was found in the basement, along with what police say was a liquid accelerant. Police also say that the gas line was intentionally disconnected.
Five weeks after the fire, D.J. Bhola, a ninth-grader, and his two elementary-school-aged sisters still attend Malverne schools despite having moved away from the area. Most recently, Tom Alexander, D.J.'s guidance counselor, led a bake sale during Malverne's Homecoming football game on Oct. 21. "We've all been trying to help out," said Alexander, who had just become familiar with D.J. and the Bhola family this year. "The district and the community are trying to do different things."
Students who were in a bereavement group under Alexander's guidance last year contributed baked goods to the event, and the school's Snapple iced tea vendor donated drinks for sale. A collection bowl was also passed around, and the Student Council sold paper stars that adorned the walls of the school.
In total, $768 was raised for D.J. and his family during Homecoming. Alexander said that since the fire in October, the school has raised about $2,000 through individual class bake sales and collections in the main office and cafeteria. "We're just trying to help in whatever way we can," he said. "We want to help them rebuild their lives. This is my first year with D.J., and he and his mom are so nice. You just want to go out of your way to help them. They're very appreciative in my conversations with them."
All of the West Hempstead schools have held fund-raisers for the Bholas, Alexander said, and one Parent Teacher Association sponsored bereavement specialists to speak about grief at Cornwell Avenue Elementary School shortly after David¹s death.
D.J.'s sisters are in first and third grade at Cornwell, which has also raised money for the family, said Principal Anthony Cali. "It's been a real concerted effort," he said of the school¹s and community¹s efforts to help Briana and Cassandra return to their normal lives.
There have been collections of donations in addition to the bereavement session at the school, as well as class fund-raisers and clothing donations. Cali said that just last week, the first grade class in which one of the children is enrolled held a cupcake sale. For Halloween, the girls were given a trick-or-treat bag filled with books and holiday-themed goods.
"It's been wonderful," Cali said of the caring and empathetic qualities he's seen in his students who have helped. "We really had an outpouring of support. Everybody really came together."
"The girls' mom has been really overwhelmed with the support and number of things they've received," he added.
Alexander agreed that much good has come in the aftermath of the devastating incident. Although he has been in the district for five years, he said he can't remember the last time he saw such a community response. "I think it's brought a lot of people together, and it's really taking a tragic event and trying to make something positive out of it," Alexander said. "People have so much compassion and empathy for the family. What happened is so sad, but it's nice to see people are trying to help and it brings out the good side in people."
Comments about this story? RKalina@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
