MANORVILLE, N.Y. – A few months after the death of iconic Long Island civil rights leader Lucius Ware, 91, his family was rocked by new tragedy Saturday – his grandson and his wife lost everything in a devastating house fire.
And now, the clock is ticking – they're staying in a hotel, but the departure date is Christmas Eve, and they need help moving into an uncertain future.
Lester Ware, his wife Jennifer and their daughter Crystal, 19, were at home when the fire broke out in Manorville. The family was left with nothing, Lester's mother Leisha Ware wrote.
The GoFundMe, Support A Family After Devastating Fire, was set up by Kellie Hubbard and Jennifer Ware to help.
Crystal, Lester and Jennifer “are now homeless, with nothing but the clothes on their backs and all the fur babies in a car — watching their lives disappear overnight,” the GoFundMe said.
Crystal and her father are members of the Shinnecock Nation, the page said.
“We are looking for any help — hygiene products, prayers, clothing, fur baby food, etc. Everything you have to offer is appreciated. Please help — Christmas is coming up and all they want is a warm home, guidance and possibly No one deserves a change of clothes, especially during the holiday season, let's turn his Grinchmas into a loving Christmas.
Ware said the family has been blindsided by the latest tragedy.
“First, my dad, who held us all together, is no longer here to help when needed the most,” Leisha Ware wrote on social media. “Now my oldest son has lost his home to a devastating fire. My head is spinning.”
But, he added, there is something to be thankful for: “Thank God everyone managed to get out of the house safely.”
Since the Dec. 14 fire, her son, his wife, and their daughter “are currently in an emergency hotel, paid for by a local church for a week. Their departure date is Dec. 24, Christmas Eve. We need a Christmas miracle,” said Leisha Ware.
To donate to GoFundMe, click here.
