Delia & Eduardo Need Help after Building Fire

I'm sure if this is reaching you, you have either seen, heard or already contributed your efforts towards someone who was affected by the 5- alarm fire in Sunnyside th

at has left many tenants displaced.

Watch News Coverage Here

Or Watch it Here

I’m Delia’s youngest daughter Aileen. My mom and late father raised my sister and I in apartment 4B at the 43-09 47th avenue building in Sunnyside, Queens that caught fire on 12/20/23. For two decades, and in true Sunnyside fashion, we grew very close to our neighbors and can proudly say this is the best neighborhood. My mother has lived at that residence for 40 years! All of her and her husbands personal items- everything that they have worked into retirement age for... was in that apartment.

The fire was caused by illegally using a blow torch to heat lead paint off a metal closet door frame in a vacant apartment on the 6th floor. The fire quietly moved through the walls into neighboring apartments. Thankfully, no one was lost in this terrible incident.

We were only allowed back into the apartment on 12/26/23. While there is no apparent fire damage, the entire apartment was flooded and plaster covered. Multiple rooms had the ceiling collapse, leaving behind potential asbestos and lead residue throughout. Almost nothing is salvageable.

Delia and her husband Eduardo have been temporarily placed in a Kew Gardens Hills apartment for only 6 months.

They are unsure when they will be able to return to their apartment. At this time it is dependent on the construction process, but the damage done to the building is looking like it will take at least a year. This temporary location is an hour away from Sunnyside! After the 6 months they will have to figure something out if the building isn't ready to have tenants return. My mother would NOT like to terminate her lease. We do not want to forfeit apartment 4B and are up for a challenge.

She and her husband are able to begin moving into the temporary unit in January 2024.

While the donation center has been more than generous with clothing, this money will also be available for her and her husband to purchase any additional clothing, kitchenware, furniture, home appliances, wifi... really anything and everything that will need to be replaced in their new living space.

Because my mom is still working at the tender age of 70+, this will also be able to assist her in any of the miserable winter months ahead that may be affect her commute to work (which was only a 40 min ride into the city before).

After the 6month agreement this money will also potentially be used for storage fees, moving fees, and renting a new apartment.

If there are any additional funds, we would love to assist other friends of ours in the building who have also lost their things and have been displaced. We encourage the Sunnyside and Woodside community to continue to provide support in anyway possible to our neighbors: friends who have become family over the years.

We hope to have everyone reunited in the building one day.

Thank you for your consideration and support during these difficult times.