Dozens Of Rooms Donated For Visiting Firefighters
By: Vanessa Herring
Updated: December 28, 2012
After
Monday's tragic shooting of four firefighters in Webster several vigils
have been held, and now the community is getting ready to lay Mike
Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka to rest.
Thousands of fire fighters are expected to attend the services honoring both men and the community is stepping up to welcome them to Webster, "the phones have been crazy, but that is just an amazing thing," explained Jaime Dengal-Story, the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hampton Inn.
The Facebook page, "Prayers and Support for Webster Firefighters," is spreading the word about donating rooms for visiting firefighters. People have donated a single night stay and some companies have donated as many as 50 rooms, "it's the outpouring of the community, the nation itself," said Dengal-Story, "we've had people from Florida and Michigan calling in to donate hotel rooms for the firefighters coming in this weekend."
Carl Bellanca is the president of Webster Girls Softball. He donated two nights at the Hampton Inn, "if you personally didn't know Tomasz and Mike you knew of them and all the service they provided," explained Bellanca, "so this is just a real tight community and everyone is trying to come up with things to do to really help everybody get through this horrible tragedy."
The gesture is already appreciated, "they are extremely touched they didn't even imagine the outpouring of support that they have locally here in Rochester and I guess nationwide with their bother fire fighters and first responders," said Dengal-Story.
The hotel is holding receptions tomorrow through Monday for family members and fire fighters. Jet Blue is paying for air fare for some of the fire fighters and Rochester Shuttle Express is providing transportation to and from the airport. People have also been donating gift cards to restaurants to provide meals for visiting firefighters.
Thousands of fire fighters are expected to attend the services honoring both men and the community is stepping up to welcome them to Webster, "the phones have been crazy, but that is just an amazing thing," explained Jaime Dengal-Story, the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hampton Inn.
The Facebook page, "Prayers and Support for Webster Firefighters," is spreading the word about donating rooms for visiting firefighters. People have donated a single night stay and some companies have donated as many as 50 rooms, "it's the outpouring of the community, the nation itself," said Dengal-Story, "we've had people from Florida and Michigan calling in to donate hotel rooms for the firefighters coming in this weekend."
Carl Bellanca is the president of Webster Girls Softball. He donated two nights at the Hampton Inn, "if you personally didn't know Tomasz and Mike you knew of them and all the service they provided," explained Bellanca, "so this is just a real tight community and everyone is trying to come up with things to do to really help everybody get through this horrible tragedy."
The gesture is already appreciated, "they are extremely touched they didn't even imagine the outpouring of support that they have locally here in Rochester and I guess nationwide with their bother fire fighters and first responders," said Dengal-Story.
The hotel is holding receptions tomorrow through Monday for family members and fire fighters. Jet Blue is paying for air fare for some of the fire fighters and Rochester Shuttle Express is providing transportation to and from the airport. People have also been donating gift cards to restaurants to provide meals for visiting firefighters.
