Kids & Family
Sandy Victim Forced to Live in His Backyard; Fundraiser Started
Cancer-stricken man forced to live at gutted home after FEMA emergency money expires.
A Lindenhurst man whose home's interior was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in October is now living out of his own backyard, according to multiple television reports.
Chuck Burgio, a Lindenhurst resident on South Fifth Street, has been spending his nights on his porch, sleeping on an air mattress with his gym equipment and patio table since the inside of his home is completely gutted with all the walls and floorboards ripped out.
"I've been in the backyard right here, getting bit up by mosquitoes and gnats," he told NBC New York. "Where am I going to go? I have no money."
Burgio told News 12 Long Island he had been living out a local motel, but FEMA alerted him last week that the organization would no long pay for the emergency housing.
He also told the news channel he had been cooking, sleeping and working out in his yard, depending on donations from Catholic Charities.
According to News 12, Burgio said he took a hard fall in the gutted home a month ago which landed him in the hospital, revealing his also has kidney cancer.
During the NBC New York broadcast, a man dropped by Burgio's home, offering to help rebuild the interior of the home for free. Burgio was shocked.
"He just came here and put $500 in my hand and told me he's going to do this whole house for nothing," he said. "I'm going to have a heart attack."
In addition to the local good samaritans, Lindenhurst-based Adopt-A-House has taken up the cause, by starting a donation drive online where anyone can give money to help Burgio out.
"With your help we plan on finding a better more affordable living arrangement until his home is fixed," Adopt-A-House wrote on the Crowdrise fundraiser page. "We are also looking for a trailer donation, volunteers and skilled laborers to help with rebuild."
The fundraiser, in less than a day, has already raised $450. Adopt-A-House has set a goal of $10,000 for the campaign.
If you are interested in donating to the fundraiser, you can check out their page on Crowdrise here.
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