We lost our home — but gained the strength of our community

To the Yorktown Community,

On the morning of Sunday, Feb. 1, we experienced one of the most devastating losses imaginable.

Our home caught fire and, in a matter of hours, we lost all of our belongings and everything we had worked so hard for. We were left in shock, disbelief and deep sadness.

But those feelings did not overtake us — because of the incredible outpouring of love and support we received from hundreds of people, especially our Yorktown community. We never could have imagined that so much goodness could come from such a tragedy. It has been nothing short of amazing.

We would like to thank the brave members of the Yorktown Fire Department and the surrounding fire departments who rushed to the scene and fought tirelessly in the bitter cold to extinguish the fire. Your courage and devotion towards helping others mean more to us than words can express.

To our neighbors who noticed the suspicious smoke that morning and alerted us without hesitation, thank you for looking out for us. We will gladly lend you a cup of sugar whenever you are in need!

We are also very grateful for our dedicated teachers and school community who surrounded our children with care, understanding and comfort the very next day. Your support helped them feel safe and steady when everything felt uncertain. To our entire district staff, I am forever appreciative to work with individuals who show up in times of need. We are blessed to be in such a wonderful district.

Thank you to the Yorktown Police Department for nominating our family to receive donations during this year’s Kindness Day in memory of Capt. Kenneth Sgroi. The generosity shown through these donations will help us begin to replace what was lost and ease some of the burden during this difficult time.

And finally, to our entire Yorktown community — thank you. For the clothing, toys and furniture, the meals, groceries and gift cards, the check-ins, play dates, and countless thoughtful gestures. The list just goes on and on.

Even after such a tragic event, we feel incredibly blessed to be part of a community where love shows up in such powerful ways. Thank you for rallying around us and lifting us up. We will proudly rebuild our home in the best town there is — our beloved Yorktown.

-Cheryl & John DiNoia, proud Yorktown residents