Johnston Rallies To Help Lily And Jake

Down the stairs from the engine garage at headquarters, large cardboard boxes filled with childrens' clothes and toys await delivery to the family members who are caring for the children of Stacie Dorego.

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Firefighter Brian Russo, who is in contact with the family and has been coordinating the IAFF Local 1950's collection efforts, said the quick response by local residents has been impressive.

"The outpouring of support from the townspeople and people around Rhode Island has been overwhelming," Russo said during an interview Thursday afternoon in the station's break room. "We've almost accomplished the first phase, which is the immediate, 'What do these children need?' phase. Now, we have to start thinking of their long-term needs."

First responders discovered the two children, ages 5 and 3, inside their Pershing Road home as police and fire personnel responded to a house fire that was apparently caused by the childrens' father, who awaits trial on charges that he murdered their mother and tried to burn her remains.

A third sibling, age 15, was not living in the home.

Earlier this week, a donation fund was named in the two younger children's honor, the Lily and Jake Fund.

After neighbor Cara Mallozzi issued a call for donations and posted her phone number for publication, "she got bombarded," Russo recalled. "I can't say enough about Cara — she's been so instrumental in helping these kids."

Russo said that's when he decided to contact Mallozzi and offer the union's help in hosting the collection.

"We needed a central location — and we had one — and we already had a website where we could publicize it, so I said, 'Use our website,'" Russo explained.

Immediately after they were found in the house, the two younger children were taken to Hasbro Childrens' Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

On Thursday afternoon, Russo reported that they had been released and were already settling into their new home.

They're in a big house with other children — I got to hear one of them on the phone, and it was Lily saying 'I'm playing the tickle game' with one of the other children," Russo recalled. "She's playing, she's functioning, [and] just to hear that little bit, you just said 'That's what this is about, helping these kids.'"

Send Monetary and Gift Card Donations to:

The Lily and Jake Fund

c/o Johnston Fire Department

1520 Atwood Ave., Johnston RI 02919