After being displaced by fire, WSU student, Burger Bah employee boosted by her coworkers
When co-workers at Worcester Public Market’s Burger Bah heard about part-timer Samantha Arguin being displaced after a recent house fire, they didn’t think twice about donating.
For the next several weeks, the employees not only have offered to donate tips to help Arguin purchase college supplies and clothing, but also are helping to spread the word about a GoFundMe for her family.
Worcester Public Market vendors also are lending support, according to the market’s executive director Domenic Mercurio. “Individually, they are rallying behind Sam,” he said.
A fire on March 14 at a single-family house, 14 Scott St., Worcester, left Arguin and members of her foster family living in hotels. “Thankfully, no one was at home at the time of the fire,” said the 23-year-old Arguin, a junior at Worcester State University. The cause of the fire that tore through two floors of the house has not yet been determined. Arguin said it may have been accidental, starting outdoors. Wanda Lebron and Luis Estevez co-own the house purchased in 2022. Arguin said Lebron has been her foster “mom” for about seven years.
Arguin was at college when the fire occurred around mid-afternoon. She is focusing on English and Secondary Education at Worcester State. The Student Emergency Fund at the college provided her with limited emergency financial support, she said. According to the university website, the Student Emergency Fund gives students limited financial support when they need assistance with unexpected, unforeseen and unavoidable emergency circumstances that jeopardize their ability to successfully continue in school. The American Red Cross also has helped the family.
The things lost in the fire were just possessions that can be replaced, said Arguin. However, she wonders about family photos stored in her second-floor bedroom. “I hope they all didn’t get ruined,” she said. “Luckily, my laptop was with me at school.”
The day of the fire, Arguin called Drew Day, manager at The Burger Bah, to say she couldn’t make her shift, explaining the circumstances. “Drew was very understanding and told me to take as long as I needed and asked how he could help,” said Arguin. “When co-workers told me what they wanted to do for me, I said it wasn’t necessary and that they didn’t have to do anything. I was OK, but they insisted on helping out. They’re the best.”
At Burger Bar, Arguin and co-workers flip burgers and wait on customers. They are a cheerful and enthusiastic group of young people, eager to help visitors. Note: Restaurant manager Drew Day in 2020 was Iron Chef winner at Worcester’s Best Chef competition. Day at the time was executive chef at The Flying Rhino in Worcester. The competition hasn’t been held since the pandemic and is expected to return in 2025.
Arguin has no idea when family will be able to return home. She tries to take everything in stride and not get too emotional, she said. “I’m just thankful for my family and the support we have received. We’re taking it one step at a time.”
The Worcester Public Market, 160 Green St., currently is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Table Hoppin': Burger Bah employees rally around coworker after fire
