Whitestone residents Noreen Cafasso and Kristine Gordon set up a GoFundMe Tuesday to support the family of Mark Calandra after he suddenly passed away on July 2 due to artery blockage. With a $100,000 goal, the GoFundMe is meant to provide support for wife Yvette, daughter Layla and adopted grandson Michael.
According to Cafasso, while Yvette works as a school aide in the New York City Public School System, Mark was the main provider for the family. Now, she has to support an 11-year-old and a 5-month-old by herself. Layla will be starting middle school in September after graduating from P.S. 209. Cafasso and Gordon each have daughters who are close friends with Layla. After hearing about what happened to Mark, they wanted to help ensure the family can stay financially stable during such a difficult time.
“Yvette is now a single mom who will need much help raising these two kids on her own,” Cafasso said. “The family is in shock and Yvette is naturally worried on how she will provide for two young kids alone. No donation is too small; whatever extra you can spare will help this family more than you know.”
As of the morning of July 6, more than $1,000 has already been raised just 13 hours after the page was created. The GoFundMe page has a goal of reaching $100,000.
