Saved from the fire

On April 15, Mark Sabota watched helplessly as the fire department hosed down the flames at the Olyphant, Pa., house where he had been living for the past year.

He felt overwhelmed and lost. He and the four other people living in the house were now homeless. All of the residents left the burning building shoeless and with just the clothes on their backs.

Salvation Army staff and volunteers arrived on the scene, handed masks to those who needed them, and offered the residents an opportunity to sit in warm cars on that cold evening. Two of the people displaced by the fire stayed with family. Michael Cipilewski, regional manager for The Salvation Army Service Extension Department, arranged for Mark and two of the other residents to stay at a local hotel.

Michael helped a man transition to an apartment, while Mark and the other resident stayed at the Salvation Army’s Camp Ladore, where they received lodging and food for two weeks. From there, Michael helped them move to an apartment in a nearby town. All of the fire victims are now stable.

Mark was grateful to have the support of the Salvation Army staff and volunteers.

“I’m starting to feel better,” he said. “A lot of people helped me.”

Only one item in Mark’s apartment survived the fire in good condition, and it was something he cherished. He was surprised and pleased to see that it was his Salvation Army Bell Ringer Award, which he had hung in a place of honor on the wall.

“That was my favorite picture!” he exclaimed. “The only thing broken on it was the frame. I’m happy it was saved.”

Mark has been a volunteer bell ringer for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign for many years. He and his two sisters have helped by ringing the bell during the holiday season to raise funds for The Salvation Army’s social service programs.

Mark recently went back to the burned building to see if he could salvage his Salvation Army sweatshirt. He was disappointed to hear it was lost in the fire; he valued this as another keepsake of the days he spent volunteering.

“After we get done ringing the bell, The Salvation Army gives us ham and an Army sweatshirt,” Mark explained. Upon hearing this, Michael told Mark he would replace the sweatshirt.

Michael also bought a new frame for the Bell Ringer Award.

Mark has been helping two of the other fire victims by driving them to the grocery store and on errands.

“I told them, don’t be afraid to call me when you need a ride,” said Mark, who is always glad to assist others in need.

by Eileen Lippman