Donations Being Collected For Displaced Hillsborough Family

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — As fire and smoke filled the Gabriel's apartment building, the family quickly gathered their twin boys and escaped.

Now the family of four is living in a hotel and locals are looking to lend a helping hand by donating food, money and supplies.

The fire broke out on Oct. 24 fire at the Hillsborough Garden Apartments where a family of three lost their lives.

Husband Vinod B. Damodaran, age 44; wife Sreeja Thekkekoical-Sasi, age 38; and child Aardra V. Nair, age 13, were identified as the three victims in the fire.

The Gabriel's apartment was located right next to where the fire started, which was exactly 11 years to the day the family had moved into the complex.

"We were all home at the time," Rachael Gabriel said. "It was so windy that night that we could see the flames fly right by our door. My husband jumped out balcony and I had my kids grab clothes, shoes, get dressed and get out. Everything was grab what you can and get out."

Steven, Rachael's husband, ran back inside to help the disabled neighbors upstairs escape. But once outside the family had nothing but they were wearing. Rachael only had a T-shirt and shorts. Emergency responders gave them a blanket to keep warm.

The Gabriel's are now living in a hotel room which has one bed and a roll-out couch for the 10-year-old boys. The hotel room has a small two-burner stove, yet no oven.

All of their clothes were thrown out and they are still waiting to find out if anything as far as furniture was salvageable in their apartment.

"We are a humble family and don't like to ask people for help but its been a nightmare," Rachael said.

At night her son will crawl into bed and cry not for his lost toys or possessions but for his lost memories.

A local mother in Hillsborough, Christine Simone, heard about the Gabriel's story and spearheaded a campaign to help them.

"This has put them in both a financial and emotional turmoil," Simone wrote on her gofundme site. "Rachael was an at home childcare provider which at this time she is not able to do which has left them to live on one income. Their renters insurance has not started helping them yet and because they had this insurance they are not eligible for further Red Cross Assistance."

She started the gofundme site to raise funds and is also collecting any clothes, gift cards, food that she drops off at the hotel for the family.

Additionally, Simone has recruited the help of the Red Cross and ShopRite, who is donating a cooked Thanksgiving and Christmas meal to the family. The store is donating a gift card and collecting gifts for the kids.

This fund is set up to help provide them the monies they need for a deposit on a new apartment and the cost of day to day living expenses.

To donate to the gofundme site visit https://www.gofundme.com/the-gabriel-family#.

Or to drop off donations, gift cards or anything reach out to Christine Simone at 609-224-5494.

(Image provided: The Gabriel's twin boys)

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