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Thrift sale to help defray fire victims’ medical expenses

12:10 AM EDT on Tuesday, March 20, 2007

By Brandie M. Jefferson

Journal Staff Writer

NORTH KINGSTOWN — Many survivors of The Station nightclub fire are constantly reminded of the 2003 disaster by health problems that come and go, and some that will never heal completely.

The Station Family Fund, which was initially founded to help the families of the 100 club-goers killed in the West Warwick blaze, was reorganized earlier this year and is working primarily to raise money to help cover medical expenses for victims with chronic health problems.

The fund will get a boost this Sunday from a yard sale organized by 1-800-GOT-JUNK, a junk-removal franchise owned by Peter Bottachiari and Marcel Martin. The company, which has offices in North Kingstown and Narragansett, specializes in help with spring cleaning, hauling away unwanted clutter.

Some of the clutter, Bottachiari finds, is good enough to sell.

“Some people’s junk is other people’s treasure,” he said. “We’re just looking at ways to help people out.”

Bottachiari and Martin decided to hold a thrift sale, and will donate all of the profits to the Station Family Fund.

The money they raise will go even further thanks to Cranston philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein, who announced last month that he would match all donations to the fund up to $100,000 through March 23 and then extended the deadline to match what is raised at Sunday’s sale.

Jonathan Bell, the chairman of the Station Family Fund, said the long-term needs for survivors are varied, but some chronic ailments show up.

“Lung damage is a recurrent problem that doesn’t go away,” said Bell.

“Skin grafts and related issues are recurrent problems. And physical therapy is a recurrent expense.”

Last week Bell received an e-mail from a survivor now living out of state. The person had been doing well, Bell said, but in recent months began having breathing problems related to damage sustained in the fire.

“We’re not going to be able to pay for anything approaching what is necessary” to cover the person’s medical costs, Bell said.

At the moment the fund can just afford to help with incidentals: gas money, insurance co-payments, and covering part of what insurance won’t.

Sunday’s sale will help the fund provide more benefits to more people, and that is something Bell appreciates.

But, he added, “It’s a nice thing because, aside from the survivors benefiting, everyone benefits.”

Bottachiari said he expects to sell everything from gas stoves to antique chairs.

“We get a lot of good junk,” he says.

The thrift sale will be held Sunday at 48 Highland St. in Woonsocket from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

“Some people’s junk

is other people’s

treasure. We’re just looking at ways

to help people out.”

Peter Bottachiari

bjeffers@projo.com

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