Captain Matt Porcari sounds like the kind of guy anyone would have wanted to have been friends with. Matt loved his life, family, friends and Owego. Matt served at his local church as well as in his community where he fought fires with the OFD Company #3.

Matt helped his neighbors in need after the 2011 floods that ravaged the area including the Porcari’s own home.  When Matt learned about the devastation of Hurricane Sandy downstate, he organized his fellow firefighters and he and his team stood in for local downstate firefighters so they could tend to their own homes.

Matt took care of his family.  He loved his wife and his children.

But one thing Matt wasn’t able to completely take care of was his own home.  Matt’s home was affected in the 2011 flood and he was so busy helping others that he wasn’t able to help himself. Matt had plans to finish up work on his home, but his life was cut short while he battled a blaze on January 21, 2013.

The Greater Binghamton Association of Realtors is holding a benefit at The Texas Roadhouse on the Vestal Parkway on Wednesday March 20th from 11:30am-4pm to try to pay it forward to Matt’s family by collecting funds to finish the work Matt started on his home before he passed away.

Tickets are $20 and can be bought by calling Sandi Stebelton at 607-768-2372 or Rose Pelino at 607-761-8073.  Lunch choices are cheeseburger, pulled pork sandwiches or grilled chicken sandwich.

If you’re a local business who would like to make a basket donation for this event’s basket raffle, please call Rebecca at 607-760-8016.

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