Father Of Bronx Fire Victims Receives Gifts From The Community

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Father Of Bronx Fire Victims Receives Gifts From The Community
04/17/2007 10:50 PM
By: NY1 News

It's been more than a month since the devastating fire in the Bronx which took the lives of ten people. But the outpouring of support has not stopped. NY1's Dean Meminger was there Tuesday as one of the men who lost children in the fire received a special gift.

Moussa Magassa was all smiles as he met with students from P.S. 89 in the Bronx Tuesday.

The students raised $250 in donations for the Magassa and Soumare families that lost ten of their loved ones in the horrible house fire on March 7th.

"We all came up with an idea to have a bake sale,” said Thomas Felix, a student a P.S. 89. “We raised $250."

Magassa says being around these children is like being around his own, five of whom died in the Woodycrest Avenue fire.

“When I come home, I see all of my children running to me,” said Mougassa. “I always smile. I love children.”

Mamadou Soumare lost four children and his wife in the fire.

The two men are immigrants from the West African nation of Mali, which intrigued these fifth graders.

"We study the people of Mali and how they live," said Khuram Sheraz, another P.S. 89 student.

The students joined Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, and African leaders inside the Ladder 49, Engine 68 fire house, where the Magassa and Soumare families were given a check for more than $86,000.

The donations came from readers of the New York Daily News.

The Magassa family has been staying in an apartment not far from their previous home, but Moussa Magassa says he wants to fix up his house in order to move his family back in.

He says it won't be hard moving back here and he remains very spiritual about the lost of his children

"I don't cry,” said Magassa. “I cannot bring them back. Whenever I feel like I am going to cry, I just call Allah’s name and my body stays strong and happy."

Meanwhile, graffiti artist Mohammed Ali from England is showing his support by doing a mural in the Bronx. Ngoundo Magassa, who survived the fire, took part in spray painting it.

“They said they are going to do like a graffiti painting for my brothers and sisters, so I was happy,” said Ngoundo Magassa. “I wanted to help out."

She says this is one way to keep her loved ones’ memories alive.

-Dean Meminger