Offers of Help for WTC Victim

By Merle English | STAFF WRITER

November 30, 2001

New Yorkers reached out yesterday to the New Jersey woman whose haunting photograph has become a symbol of the World Trade Center tragedy.

After reading her story in Newsday, people from Queens, Manhattan and Long Island who were moved by Marci Borders' ordeal called the newspaper with offers of help for her.

"I read that article, and boy, did this get my heart," said Michael Canino of Babylon, general chairman of the 3,000-member United Transportation Union. "These are the people who are slipping through the cracks."

Borders, 28, of Bayonne, the single mother of an 8-year-old girl, was doused by sprinklers in the lobby of Tower One after a harrowing escape down stairwells. She was covered with ash from falling debris as she fled the building.

Terrorized by the experience, Borders - who had just started a new job with Bank of America on the 81st floor of Tower One - has been unable to work or resume her regular activities.

She is in constant fear of another terrorist attack and is broke, depressed and unable to provide food for herself and her daughter.

Canino said he and his organization, which represents inspectors, conductors, and track and car cleaners for the Long Island Rail Road, want to send Borders a contribution.

Bill Broglie, a North Babylon physical therapist, said he had seen Borders' picture earlier and had wondered "what happened to her."

"That picture says a thousand words, then I read the story," Broglie said. "With Christmas coming and all, I want to help out if I can."

Katherine Carries of Cambria Heights, was peeved that "with all of the fund-raising for World Trade Center victims, these people aren't getting anything."

"I was in tears this morning when I read that article," Carries said. "I can't send a lot, but I really want to send something for Christmas. The firefighters and policemen have a city pension that's going to take care of their families. But what about the working-class people?"

Kay Traynor, an office manager of a medical practice in Hauppauge, said, "I was moved to tears. I really felt so bad for her. She's probably one of hundreds in the same situation."

Other offers came from Christal Roberts of Baldwin, who said, "If nothing else I want to get her phone back on." Karen Winik of Great Neck is unemployed, too, but she said, "I was very touched, and I'd like to help out."

Fran Brunner of Wantagh, who raises funds for the Order of the Eastern Star, a fraternal charitable organization in Manhattan, added Borders' name to a list of "people struggling from the disaster that need money" who will receive a check.

Several agencies are providing assistance for survivors of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks.

Safe Horizon makes cash available for emergency needs: 800-621-HOPE. Grief counseling is available in three languages through the Department of Mental Health Services Hotline: English speakers, 212-995-5824; Spanish, 212-533-7007; and Chinese, 212-254-2731.

The American Red Cross offers housing, food and medical assistance: 212-219-6200.

The Salvation Army is another source of food: 800-SAL-ARMY.

And the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association provides legal advice through its toll-free number: 866-606-0626.