Friends of PW Fund
Donation protected
On Monday, January 21st, Our dear friend and coworker Paul W. went home from work here at the office, only to find fire trucks and emergency vehicles in his driveway. The detectives on the scene then told him that there was a fire, and everything in the house was gone. His pets, his memories, and tragically, his landlord. The only thing Paul had left was the car he was driving and the clothes on his back. Everything was lost.
Paul has worked for us here at AAA Worldwide Transportation for nearly 5 years. He is a vital part of this team here at AAA, but more so, a respected member of this family here.
We decided to put this page up so that anyone moved to do so, can help us help Paul. The material things are lost. His beloved pets lost. His friend and landlord tragically lost. I can not imagine what he must be feeling inside, but I know Paul and he is putting a positive step forward knowing life moves on, and he is thankful for what he has that is irreplaceable. We mourn with him for his friend and landlord and his sudden loss. Horrible.
Many people have asked, "How can we help?" Well this is a start. We will help Paul put the pieces back together, one day at a time. With your help too, we can give to someone - who has lost everything.
Thanks so much!
Robert
Adding links that tells of this tragedy...
https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/one-killed-long-valley-fire-prosecutor-confirms
https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/long-valley-fire-under-investigation-prosecutors-office
Feeling sad for our friend and coworker.
(Written by Dyana)
A few weeks ago, a coworker that I recently trained, who is older (like me), quiet, and sweet, brought his rabbit to work. He said he was on his way home from the vet. He took her for a wellness check as she was older (I don't remember exactly, but I think about 9 or 10, so older than the normal life expectancy of a rabbit).
I got to hold her for a bit and love her and calm her, as I know stress is not good for rabbits. She (I feel bad that I don't remember her name) is a slightly longish haired rabbit, and very small, with the dutch (black and white tuxedo coloring).
He told me again, how his daughters left their animals with him, when they went off to college and never asked about their pets that they left behind when they called their Dad, but he was determine to give them (the 4 legged animals) the love they deserved. And he did.
About a week ago, to maybe longer, he said she (the rabbit) had stroke and her one (left?) side was weakened, and her eye was drooping a little on that side. He said he was going to give her extra love, for the time she had left. What a sweet man.
I came into work this morning, and he said he was on his way home from work last night, around 12:30 am this morning (his shift ended at midnight), and he was blocked on his street by fire trucks.
His whole house burned down, and he lost everything, his rabbit and cat, all his possessions, clothes, pictures, whatever, and his landlord.
This morning, he had on the white shirt, red tie, black slacks, fancy shiny black shoes, and jacket that he had on when he left work last night. That's all he has left, just the clothes on his back.
He said he went back to the house this morning to see if there was anything salvageable, and he said there was nothing, and he saw his rabbit's melted cage. I was almost on the verge of tears already and broke down when he said that. He said he gave her lots of love in her life, and he remembered trimming her nails, and when he was finished, she would fall asleep in his lap. I tried to hold back the tears, but that did it.
When he left work, he said he was on the way to Burlington Coat Factory to get some clothes. I asked him if he needed money (we don't get paid a lot) but he said no and thank you, that he had meant to pay this rent last night...
We are taking up a collection at work for him, tomorrow. I don't have any man's clothes or extra money, but I do have a $50.00 gift certificate to The Gap that I am planning to give him.
For now, he is staying with another coworker, who has a cat. I told that coworker, I hope your cat will snuggle up and sleep with him, the man who lost everything. :( That coworker rescued the cat from our work, and he said she is sweet, and hopefully, he can give this guy some loves, because I know he needs it.
Paul has worked for us here at AAA Worldwide Transportation for nearly 5 years. He is a vital part of this team here at AAA, but more so, a respected member of this family here.
We decided to put this page up so that anyone moved to do so, can help us help Paul. The material things are lost. His beloved pets lost. His friend and landlord tragically lost. I can not imagine what he must be feeling inside, but I know Paul and he is putting a positive step forward knowing life moves on, and he is thankful for what he has that is irreplaceable. We mourn with him for his friend and landlord and his sudden loss. Horrible.
Many people have asked, "How can we help?" Well this is a start. We will help Paul put the pieces back together, one day at a time. With your help too, we can give to someone - who has lost everything.
Thanks so much!
Robert
Adding links that tells of this tragedy...
https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/one-killed-long-valley-fire-prosecutor-confirms
https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/long-valley-fire-under-investigation-prosecutors-office
Feeling sad for our friend and coworker.
(Written by Dyana)
A few weeks ago, a coworker that I recently trained, who is older (like me), quiet, and sweet, brought his rabbit to work. He said he was on his way home from the vet. He took her for a wellness check as she was older (I don't remember exactly, but I think about 9 or 10, so older than the normal life expectancy of a rabbit).
I got to hold her for a bit and love her and calm her, as I know stress is not good for rabbits. She (I feel bad that I don't remember her name) is a slightly longish haired rabbit, and very small, with the dutch (black and white tuxedo coloring).
He told me again, how his daughters left their animals with him, when they went off to college and never asked about their pets that they left behind when they called their Dad, but he was determine to give them (the 4 legged animals) the love they deserved. And he did.
About a week ago, to maybe longer, he said she (the rabbit) had stroke and her one (left?) side was weakened, and her eye was drooping a little on that side. He said he was going to give her extra love, for the time she had left. What a sweet man.
I came into work this morning, and he said he was on his way home from work last night, around 12:30 am this morning (his shift ended at midnight), and he was blocked on his street by fire trucks.
His whole house burned down, and he lost everything, his rabbit and cat, all his possessions, clothes, pictures, whatever, and his landlord.
This morning, he had on the white shirt, red tie, black slacks, fancy shiny black shoes, and jacket that he had on when he left work last night. That's all he has left, just the clothes on his back.
He said he went back to the house this morning to see if there was anything salvageable, and he said there was nothing, and he saw his rabbit's melted cage. I was almost on the verge of tears already and broke down when he said that. He said he gave her lots of love in her life, and he remembered trimming her nails, and when he was finished, she would fall asleep in his lap. I tried to hold back the tears, but that did it.
When he left work, he said he was on the way to Burlington Coat Factory to get some clothes. I asked him if he needed money (we don't get paid a lot) but he said no and thank you, that he had meant to pay this rent last night...
We are taking up a collection at work for him, tomorrow. I don't have any man's clothes or extra money, but I do have a $50.00 gift certificate to The Gap that I am planning to give him.
For now, he is staying with another coworker, who has a cat. I told that coworker, I hope your cat will snuggle up and sleep with him, the man who lost everything. :( That coworker rescued the cat from our work, and he said she is sweet, and hopefully, he can give this guy some loves, because I know he needs it.
Fundraising team: Team Winters (10)
Robert Roetman
Organizer
Clinton, NJ
Paul Winters
Beneficiary
Carol Bernotas
Team member
Dyana Keen
Team member
Stephen Yeske
Team member
Alexandria LaMonte
Team member