By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
OLD BRIDGE — The Old Bridge community is taking to the lacrosse field to help the Pabon and Wiener families recover from losing their homes in devastating house fires last month.
The Knights Boys Lacrosse “Play for a Purpose” game will be held at 7 p.m. May 10 on Lombardi Field, located off of Route 9 and Ticetown Road.
Tickets are $5, T-shirts are $10 and bracelets are $1. All proceeds from the game will be donated by the Old Bridge Parent Teacher Student Association (OBPTSA) to the families.
On April 17, the Pabon family lost their home, and the Wiener family experienced the same devastating loss April 21.
Jean Pabon, a 2012 graduate of Old Bridge High School, said the community coming together for both their families means a lot.
“We moved here from Somerset and we never experienced something like this,” he said. “It’s not even about the money that will be raised; it just means a lot that the whole community has been so loving. … It’s fantastic.”
Pabon, who said his family is currently staying with a family friend, said he heard about the game through his brothers, who are still students at the high school, as well as through social media.
Deena Scher, whose son Tyler Weiner is a junior at Old Bridge High School, said she called Vice Principal Sally Fazio to let her know what had happened.
“We are currently staying at a hotel and will move to temporary housing,” she said.
Scher said there are no words to describe how grateful they are that the Old Bridge community has come together for their family.
“It’s incredible and everyone has been so giving. … It’s touching and moving,” she said.