Crime & Safety

Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Longtime Lacey Firefighter

Kevin Perrone is need of kidney transplants

The Lanoka Harbor Fire Department will be holding a benefit in honor of Kevin Perrone, an active member and longtime resident of Lacey Township who is in need of kidney transplants, on Saturday, April 20.

“His kidney’s are gone. Both of them are shot. We’re trying to help him out,” said Mike Nugent, president of the Lanoka Harbor Fire Department.

Perrone, 48, has been a member of the fire department for 30 years and worked for Lacey’s Department of Public Works for 25 years. The father of two is now going on disability.

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Apparently a sudden loss of weight, high pressure and stress caused Perrone’s kidneys to meltdown, Nugent said.

“It just happened within the last year,” he said. “He was good up until October last year, when he found out. It’s just been going down hill sine.”

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Perrone may soon be in need of dialysis and a week after the benefit, he will be visiting with a surgeon to discuss the transplant, Nugent said.

Members of the fire department decided to help Perrone out with this spaghetti dinner benefit, which will run from 4 to 8 p.m. at the fire company.

The dinner is all you can eat and includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, bread, soda and dessert. The night will also feature a 50/50 raffle.

Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for kids 12 years old and under and free for kids four years old and under.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Perrone, Nugent said. Although he has medical benefits from work, the funds will help Perrone pay the bills. Social security and disability are pending approval.

“It takes a while for it to get approved, if it does. Usually it gets approved for something like this,” he said. “He’ll be without paychecks and everything for the next couple months.”

Employees from public works donated their vacation and sick days to help Perrone, Nugent said.

There has been an “overwhelming” response of businesses and residents donating to the cause, Nugent said.

“I knew he had a lot of friends but I didn’t know he had this many people,” he said. “A lot of people like him. The response has been overwhelming.”

The department originally expected around 300 people for the dinner but is now expanding the event to cover both sides of the building. Seating will be available in the department’s hall as well as the area where the fire trucks are stationed.

Nugent described Perrone as a “good guy” and “easygoing.”

“He never gets mad. He never has a bad thing to say about anybody. He makes your laugh. He’s the life of the party. He isn’t anymore because he’s going through a hard time,” he said.

Perrone did not return calls for comment.


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