Community rallies around Buffalo teens who lost mother to shingles

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The community is rallying around two Buffalo teens after their mother died from shingles this week by gathering gifts and food for them ahead of the upcoming holiday.

The teens’ story has led the community to fill the grieving families’ hearts and stockings with love. Jaci Kemp, 55, has been battling shingles for the last two years, falling to the illness on Monday.

“She would always, over time, pick a different color to decorate the tree,” said Donald Kemp, Jaci’s brother. “She wanted to do that this year, but didn’t get a chance to.”

Family members said that Jaci was the provider of the family.

“She was basically the strength, just always had the boys in her heart and mind and worked her butt off,” Donald said.

“She was a great person and she’s going to be highly missed,” said Ginnie Gonzalez, a friend of Jaci’s. “She really is going to be highly missed. She was a very loyal friend, very loyal.”

Jaci left behind her two sons, who wished not to be on camera. They are now under the care of their uncle, who said he’s ready to fill his sister’s shoes.

“The goal right now is to bring together all the resources I can to make sure that we can keep the home,” Donald said.

In true Buffalo fashion, community members have come out to support the family by sending love on Facebook and providing food and gifts for Christmas, along with other items.

In less than 24 hours, 11 bags of groceries and a Christmas ham was dropped off at the Kemp house, collected by two longtime friends.

“You don’t plan for things like this, it just it comes up, so we want to keep their life as close to normal as possible so they can get through this time,” Gonzalez said.

“It’s made a really big difference. Even if it’s one bag of groceries, some clothes, two pairs of sneakers, whatever it was, it really helped and it mattered,” said family friend Sandra Marrero. “It might have been small to them, but it’s really big to us and we’re really grateful.”

Jaci’s ashes will be scattered beneath the Santa Monica Pier in California, where most of her family is from.

“This is my first time, you know, ever going down this road and what it’s made me realize is that I’m not alone. That’s probably the biggest thing, is I’m not alone,” Donald said. “That’s definitely given me foundation to move forward.”

The family is asking for any and all to help with this coming Christmas season.

“Whether it’s a gift for Christmas, even five dollars to go towards their Christmas gifts and dinner or even some extra food you may have that your family doesn’t like. Household items and Hygiene Products welcome,” the family said on Facebook.

You can help the Kemp family by sending support through Cash App to $Wildwest902, Venmo to Sandra-Marrero-19, or PayPal to SandraMarrero902 and putting “donation” in the description.

You can also reach out to Marrero for gift or food pickups at (716) 250-8602.

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Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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