Fundraiser Started To Help Owner Of Babylon Store Damaged In Fire

BABYLON VILLAGE, NY - A local resident recently start an online fundraiser to help a Babylon Village business owner who's store suffered from smoke and water damage in the massive fire on Thursday.

The blaze was reported at 260 E. Main Street and started at a two-story store along a strip of several stores and spread to the Sherwin-Williams paint store, destroying two of the businesses.

Mike Karwoski started a page on GoFundMe to raise money for Karen Vaccaro Marvin, owner of the South Shore Paddle Boards store on 258 E. Main Street.

"[Karen] woke up this morning to a disaster when hearing the news the adjoining building to her business was on fire which caused severe smoke and water damage to her store," Karwoski wrote on the page. "Karen along with her family live for the outdoors. Karen puts her full heart and soul into her paddle board business so much that it recently was named Long Islands #1 Paddle board shop."

The goal of the page is to raise a total of $3,000 to help out Marvin. According to the page, 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly towards the recovery and rebuild of the store.

As of Thursday afternoon, $495 has been raised.

Related:

• One Injury Reported In Babylon Village Fire: Chief
• Babylon Village Fire: 2 Businesses Destroyed [VIDEO]

"Karen has put countless hours helping the community cleaning up our canals and shorelines of debris in the waters with friends and family," Karwoski wrote. "This is a horrific event that has taken place and we would love to help her the best we can to get her back up and running as quickly as possible in time for the upcoming summer season. Please help a fellow outdoors woman and her family to ease the pain on their road to recovery."

On a message on the South Shore Paddle Board Facebook page, the business announced it has reschedule the Earth Day cleanup, which as originally slated for Saturday.

"The Marvin family and friends are overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciate each and everyone of you from the bottom of our hearts, for a continued outpouring of love and support," the message reads.

To donate, visit the GoFundMe page here.