Lollipop sales help widow pay medical bills
Businesses in the Voorhees Design Center are rallying around the family of a colleague, with lollipops.
Last November, the son of Genevieve Roberts, an interior designer who used to have a store in the center, was killed while he was burning debris in his Gloucester City backyard. The debris was the result of kitchen renovations he was making to his family home. Evan Goldglantz suffered third-degree burns over 92 percent of his body when a nearby gas container exploded. He died in April, and his wife and three young children were left with a $13 million in medical bills.
Roberts’ store was next to Bill Barretta’s business, Barretta Tile and Stone, in the complex. Barretta, who had hired Goldglantz to lay some hardwood floors in his store, described him as, “a pleasant young guy, and very dependable.” Prior to Goldglantz’s death, Barretta came up with the idea of selling organic lollipops at each of the design center’s store for $1 a pop to help the family. Barretta’s wife, who owns a natural food store in Mullica Hill, donates the lollipops.
Alexis Rettinger, of Rettinger Fireplace, said she displayed Goldglantz’s story near a jug of the lollipops for customers to see in March. She had to change it after he died on Easter Sunday.
In the short period of time, Rettinger said the stores collected $1,750, and presented it to Goldglantz’s wife Danielle. Rettinger and Barretta recognize that it’s not a lot of money, but both said they hope it will help Danielle with incidental purchases.
“Everyone’s responsive to it,” Barretta said. “We don’t have a high-traffic store, we sell high-end items — it’s not like a convenience store. Some people give $20 and don’t even take a lollipop.”
“Everyone has $1 to donate,” Rettinger said, “especially when you see the display. I mean, how could you not?”
Roberts said while her son was fighting for his life, her family held several fundraisers, including a blood drive. She had no idea the design center was raising money for her daughter-in-law and her grandchildren.
“I knew after it was put together, but I didn’t have anything to do with arranging it,” Roberts said. “It was strictly done in good faith on their own to help raise some money for my daughter-in-law’s family.”
Roberts said she is still in the grieving process. When she speaks of her son, her voice softens, and she can refer to him in the present tense, before correcting herself.
She said that Danielle is in the process of getting Medicare to help with the astronomical insurance bill, but it hasn’t been approved yet. Danielle had insurance, but it was capped at $1 million. Roberts said she hopes to accelerate that fight, and hold more fundraisers in the next few weeks.
“Five months of fighting for your life, with skin grafts and daily intensive care — they billed it at over $13 million,” Roberts said. “Nobody has that kind of insurance. We’re still trying to get Medicare to help, but it’s a tough road right now.
But she’s thankful for the support, adding that Danielle is working hard to support three children, and is overwhelmed.
“It’s a magnanimous, wonderful gesture. People are very giving and loving and truly care. It’s hard to believe that people have any excess money to give away at this time.”
The Voorhees Design Center is located at 476 Centennial Boulevard, Voorhees, and comprises, Barretta Tile & Stone, Inc.; Rettinger Fireplace Systems, Inc.; Delaware Valley Plumbing/WestEnd Hardware; Bella Cucina Fine Kitchens; and Sutherland Framing & Fine Art.
Last November, the son of Genevieve Roberts, an interior designer who used to have a store in the center, was killed while he was burning debris in his Gloucester City backyard. The debris was the result of kitchen renovations he was making to his family home. Evan Goldglantz suffered third-degree burns over 92 percent of his body when a nearby gas container exploded. He died in April, and his wife and three young children were left with a $13 million in medical bills.
Roberts’ store was next to Bill Barretta’s business, Barretta Tile and Stone, in the complex. Barretta, who had hired Goldglantz to lay some hardwood floors in his store, described him as, “a pleasant young guy, and very dependable.” Prior to Goldglantz’s death, Barretta came up with the idea of selling organic lollipops at each of the design center’s store for $1 a pop to help the family. Barretta’s wife, who owns a natural food store in Mullica Hill, donates the lollipops.
Alexis Rettinger, of Rettinger Fireplace, said she displayed Goldglantz’s story near a jug of the lollipops for customers to see in March. She had to change it after he died on Easter Sunday.
In the short period of time, Rettinger said the stores collected $1,750, and presented it to Goldglantz’s wife Danielle. Rettinger and Barretta recognize that it’s not a lot of money, but both said they hope it will help Danielle with incidental purchases.
“Everyone’s responsive to it,” Barretta said. “We don’t have a high-traffic store, we sell high-end items — it’s not like a convenience store. Some people give $20 and don’t even take a lollipop.”
“Everyone has $1 to donate,” Rettinger said, “especially when you see the display. I mean, how could you not?”
Roberts said while her son was fighting for his life, her family held several fundraisers, including a blood drive. She had no idea the design center was raising money for her daughter-in-law and her grandchildren.
“I knew after it was put together, but I didn’t have anything to do with arranging it,” Roberts said. “It was strictly done in good faith on their own to help raise some money for my daughter-in-law’s family.”
Roberts said she is still in the grieving process. When she speaks of her son, her voice softens, and she can refer to him in the present tense, before correcting herself.
She said that Danielle is in the process of getting Medicare to help with the astronomical insurance bill, but it hasn’t been approved yet. Danielle had insurance, but it was capped at $1 million. Roberts said she hopes to accelerate that fight, and hold more fundraisers in the next few weeks.
“Five months of fighting for your life, with skin grafts and daily intensive care — they billed it at over $13 million,” Roberts said. “Nobody has that kind of insurance. We’re still trying to get Medicare to help, but it’s a tough road right now.
But she’s thankful for the support, adding that Danielle is working hard to support three children, and is overwhelmed.
“It’s a magnanimous, wonderful gesture. People are very giving and loving and truly care. It’s hard to believe that people have any excess money to give away at this time.”
The Voorhees Design Center is located at 476 Centennial Boulevard, Voorhees, and comprises, Barretta Tile & Stone, Inc.; Rettinger Fireplace Systems, Inc.; Delaware Valley Plumbing/WestEnd Hardware; Bella Cucina Fine Kitchens; and Sutherland Framing & Fine Art.
