TODAY! PWR Rocks to Raise Money to Help Pre-K Teacher Burned Out of House

Parents Who Rock will join with Montclair Patch, Tapastry restaurant, musician Meg Beattie Patrick, and others to raise money for LaMonica Carter, a teacher at the Montclair Community Pre-K, and her family, who lost everything in a devastating fire earlier this month. Montclair Patch reported the story early Thursday morning.

The concert is set for Monday, May 28, from noon until 4 p.m. at 12 Church Street in Montclair.

The event will feature live music by Parents Who Rock bands, giveaways, and a bake sale. The goal is to raise enough money for Carter and her four children to help them rebuild their lives. The outdoor concert fundraiser will move indoors in the event of rain.

So far the schedule of performers includes:
12:00 noon   Meg Beattie Patrick and Greg Spinelli
12:30 p.m.   Andrew Klewan
1:00 p.m.     Alisa Harmon
1:30 p.m.     Adrienne Riofrio and Compas
2:00 p.m.     Alma Schneider with Tim O'Connor and Ellen Paretti
3:00 p.m.     Ed Daingerfield and Ed Carine
3:30 p.m.     Matt Davis


The beloved teacher, who has worked at the Montclair Community Pre-K for the past 11 years, is still homeless nearly two weeks after a fire destroyed her Belleville home and everything she owns on Mother's Day.

An anonymous donor has already stepped forward and offered to match every dollar donated, up to $5,000.

Carter told Montclair Patch that she and her four children, 7 to 14, had no renters insurance and can't afford the security deposit on another apartment or home.

"A lot of families have provided us with food and clothing, which is great, but we need somewhere to live," Carter told Montclair Patch.

"I haven't been able to work because I've been out each day visiting all sorts of agencies, trying to get some sort of help, but to no avail.”

 Carter, a single mother, said she doesn't earn a lot of money from her job at the preschool and that it will cost her a few thousand dollars for the security deposit on a new place alone. She hopes to find a rental in Montclair, Bloomfield, or Belleville.

 On May 13, Carter and her four children salvaged nothing but the clothes on their backs when a fire ripped through their Belleville home, incinerating everything inside. Fortunately, no one was home at the time of the afternoon three-alarm blaze.

Carter has been a full-time teacher at the Montclair Community Pre-K for 11 years and has touched many lives. Please come out on Monday and help this family rebuild their lives.

Anyone who would like to help bake or volunteer to work at the bake sale should contact Julie Earl at julieknyc@yahoo.com.)

More details will be added as we get them, including a list of bands, so please check back.

(Thanks to MontclairPatch.com for story details.)