Duncan's Fire Recovery Fund
Donation protected
Imagine you came home to find this.
Our dear friend, the award-winning playwright, Duncan Pflaster, rushed home from work as soon as he heard the news. His apartment had caught fire. A faulty space heater was to blame.
His roommate, Kim, was standing outside in the snow in shock, being comforted by the amazing FDNY firefighters. The whole building had been evacuated. Windows broken, smoke drifting in the air mixed with snow, it was hard to fully register what had happened.
His roommate, Andrew, was in the hospital being treated for burns and smoke inhalation. Their cat, Pepper, was dead. Everything they had was lost. Furniture, years of collected books, artwork, clothes, dishes, food, computers, GONE. Ruined by the life-saving efforts required to keep the whole building from being engulfed in flames.
Duncan and his roommates need a new home, soon. Today's temperature is 18F/-8C, this winter is proving to be a tough one, and while they have places to stay with friends for now, they will need permanent housing ASAP. The fees for finding an apartment in NYC are notoriously high. The typical broker's fee is 15% of the annual rent, plus a two month deposit for security. The average rent for a 3BR/1BA apartment in their current neighborhood of Astoria, Queens, is $2,500 - $3,000/month. That means that if they find a place for $2,750/month, they need $10,350 JUST TO SIGN A LEASE.
$10,350 PLUS what it will take to replace their belongings: mattresses, sofa, dining set, kitchen ware, pantry, clothes, linens, electronics, etc....
So, please, think about what it would take for you to be comfortable if everything you owned disappeared right now. Pitch in, any amount will be welcomed gratefully.
Duncan says, "I'm trying to stay chipper about this, but my eyes welled up several times today thanks to all your generosity and well-wishes. I appreciate it so much... Thanks to everyone who has offered assistance and places to crash. I have the awesomest friends."
$10,350 PLUS what it will take to replace their belongings: mattresses, sofa, dining set, kitchen ware, pantry, clothes, linens, electronics, etc....
So, please, think about what it would take for you to be comfortable if everything you owned disappeared right now. Pitch in, any amount will be welcomed gratefully.
Duncan says, "I'm trying to stay chipper about this, but my eyes welled up several times today thanks to all your generosity and well-wishes. I appreciate it so much... Thanks to everyone who has offered assistance and places to crash. I have the awesomest friends."
Organizer
Julie Tudor
Organizer
Astoria, NY