West Haven Mom, Son Lose Everything In Fire; Community Rallies

WEST HAVEN, CT — The community is rallying around a mom and her young son after they lost everything in an apartment fire last week in West Haven. Lisa Bernardo, 31, and her 7-year-old son Damien had lived in the apartment for only a month before the fire, according to the New Haven Register. They lost all of the new furniture Bernardo bought for the apartment, including special items for Damien to celebrate having his own room for the first time.

Angela Bernardo Jackson, Lisa Bernando’s sister, recently launched a GoFundMe account in support of her sister who she said always puts others’ needs before her own.

“My loving sister is a single mother who with earnest effort and persistently strives on being the best mom while ensuring a safe clean and loving environment for her son,” Jackson wrote on the GoFundMe page. “My nephew Damien was diagnosed with a behavioral disorder and life can be stressful but my sister remains positive and enlists many avenues to make the right decisions for Damien to live a happy healthy life full of love and enlightenment. Lisa is truly an extraordinary loving mother, daughter, sister and friend. She has always puts someone else’s needs before her own with love, care and graciousness.”

Jackson said that Bernardo didn’t have renters’ insurance and is in “dire need for help in rebuilding a home for her and her son.” Bernardo told the Register that she intended to buy renters’ insurance but kept putting it off because she was busy during the first month in the new apartment and never expected anything like this to happen.

Damien’s pet hamster died in the fire, but fortunately their beloved dog Pete was rescued by firefighters and has recovered nicely after a stay in the animal hospital.

Jackson has planned a fundraiser in support of Bernardo and Damien at their father’s restaurant, “New Haven Pizza Place,” at 1377 New Haven Avenue in Milford, according to the Register. The fundraiser will take place from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. with pizza and spaghetti and meatballs served. There will also be raffle prizes.

Read more at the New Haven Register here.

To visit the GoFundMe page, click here.

Photo via GoFundMe / GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner