Hello, we are the family of Lance Kostka, a friend, a brother, a father, a grandfather, a person with a heart that we seldom see these days. Lance has spent his life working hard with his painting contracting company for about 40 years, then started working for others. He has been a Patersonian for most of his life, and everyone knows Lance and his smile and his giving heart.

On January 31st, the house he has been living at in Paterson on Totowa Avenue had a 3-alarm fire from the downstairs. Lance lived upstairs. Lance was asleep, and his beloved dog Oreo was as well. No alarm sounded; only the neighbor smelled the fire, then investigated and saw it, running to my brother's house and yelling, "Lance, Lance," which I truly believe saved Lance and Oreo, as well as the Grace of God. The smoke was so bad already, but he made it out alive. He lost everything in his apartment, as well as his car and equipment he used to work. The one thing that stood when Lance went the first time to look was a statue (heavy plastic) of Mother Mary Guadalupe, totally unscathed! Lance has angels, God, and Mother Mary protecting him for sure.

Lance is not good at receiving, only giving, and that's why we haven't done this GoFundMe until now. Lance needs some help, some hope, some prayers, some uplifting words—anything for a person who has always been there for everyone else. He is the George Bailey of Paterson, and I pray he feels and sees how much he is loved! Thank you,

The Kostka family