After outage, Middle Village family gets help powering life-saving tools
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A Middle Village Home Depot donated a generator to the family of Justin Quirke, who uses electrical medical devices to help him breathe. Photo courtesy of Robert Holden’s Office
By David Brand
Middle Village parents who scrambled to charge their son’s life-saving electrical devices during last week’s power outage now have a brand new generator to prevent future storm-related anxiety. The machine was donated by a local Home Depot thanks to the advocacy of neighbors and one local elected official.
Justin Quirke, 13, uses several pieces of electrical equipment to help him breathe each day. That means power outages can be a particularly stressful time for the family.
When the Quirkes lost power for three days as a result of Tropical Storm Isaias, a neighbor allowed the family to use her generator to charge some of Justin’s vital devices, even as she charged her own nebulizer in her car.
After the Eagle reported Monday on the Quirkes’ experience during the outage, neighbors circulated the story on Facebook. One Good Samaritan — the Quirkes’ landlord’s cousin — stepped up and contacted local Councilmember Robert Holden, who in turn reached out to Home Depot in Middle Village about possibly donating a generator.
The store owner agreed to give the Quirkes the gas-powered machine, as well as a gas can, an extension cord and a secondary circuit board to hook the generator up to the house. Neighbors came out to celebrate the donation outside the family’s home Tuesday evening.
JUSTIN QUIRKE, 13, (FOREGROUND) WITH HIS YOUNGER BROTHER MATEO (LEFT), FATHER THOMAS (CENTER) AND MOTHER ALICIA. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE QUIRKE FAMILY
“The whole street was there. Our neighbors, the councilman, everybody,” Justin’s mother Alicia Quirke told the Eagle. “It was just amazing to have everyone support us and rally for us.”
Quirke praised her community, Holden and Home Depot for supporting their neighbors in need.
“It’s overwhelming. We’re blessed and we’re grateful and it’s a testament to our friends and neighbors here who help each other out during times of need,” she said.
She said she and her husband had looked into buying a generator in the past, but couldn’t swing it with the machines priced at more than $1,000.
“It was something we needed,” she said. “Now a lack of power won’t be such a huge worry in the future. It’s a huge weight off our shoulders.”
Holden said obtaining the generator took a team effort.
"It was truly an honor to be a part of this great community effort to help one of our neighbors in need,” Holden said.
“I hope this gives the wonderful Quirke family some peace of mind, and we will all continue to do everything we can to support Justin,” he continued. “I'm proud to represent such a close-knit and caring neighborhood."
