CORTLANDT MANOR – Friends and strangers alike are rallying around members of the Toone family who not only lost two children but most of their possessions when fire ravaged their Cortlandt Manor home early Wednesday.
Two Putnam Valley High School students, the daughter and son of a Westchester County corrections officer, died in the tragic blaze. Officials said 17-year-old Alina Toone and 15-year-old Jeremiah Toone were both killed in the fire believed to have started from an overloaded extension cord.
The children’s mother and older brother were home when the fire broke out and escaped. Both were hospitalized. Meanwhile, the head of the household, Corrections Officer Gregory Toone, was working at the Westchester County Jail.
On Thursday members of the Westchester Corrections Officers Benevolent Association announced the formation of a GoFundMe account to support the family with a goal of $100,000.
Organizer Jessica Shannon said, “No one should ever have to endure this kind of pain and loss. As Officer Toone and his loved ones begin to face the difficult days ahead, we are asking for community support to help ease the financial burden of funeral expenses, housing and other unforeseen costs.”
Meanwhile, Yorktown Love in Action, a non for profit that aids Putnam and Westchester families fallen on difficult times, has begun collecting gift cards from local businesses to assist the family.
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