[StBernard] 300 Bicycles Donated, and More...

[Westley Annis]

300 Bicycles Donated, and More... 

December 17 , 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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300 children's bicycles have been donated; contributions being collected for
family whose Christmas presents and other possessions were destroyed in a
fire Thursday

St. Bernard officials say they have a goal of giving a bicycle for Christmas
to every child living in the parish and several businesses are trying to
make that happen.

David Fenner, president of Associated Terminals of St. Bernard, announced
Friday his company is donating 100 bicycles as well as giving $10,000 to go
toward toys for children.

Associated Terminals, the largest lessee at the port of St. Bernard, also
has allowed its property to be used to store donated goods.

Also, recently Century Investment Co. donated 200 children's bicycles, which
were assembled this week by military personnel in Chalmette. Toys were also
donated.

The 300 bicycles will be distributed this coming week.


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Offers of donations are being made to help a St. Bernard Parish family who
lost their children's Christmas presents and other items in a fire Thursday
that destroyed their Kenilworth community home and a camper they were
storing things inside.

Only their FEMA trailer survived the early morning fire in the 2000 block of
Kenilworth Drive at the home of Lynn Alfonso, a crab fisherman, and his
wife, Nicole. Neither they nor their three girls and one boy were injured,
St. Bernard Fire Department officials said.

The fire began in a generator, then jumped to their home and an old camper
trailer they had been living in and were storing items in, including
Christmas presents, said Capt. Mark Melancon of the Fire Department. Their
new FEMA trailer had only minor damage, the wife said Friday.

But all the children's Christmas presents and a large amount of clothing and
other items were lost in the blaze, Ms. Alfonso said.

After an article about the fire appeared on the Associated Press wire,
offers of donations began coming in Friday, Melancon said.

Anyone wishing to donate items to the family can send them in their name to
the St. Bernard Parish Fire Department, 8201 West Judge Perez Drive, St. 
Bernard Parish Government Building, Chalmette, La., 70043.