Jimmy's Famous Seafood hosts fundraiser for families of two fallen Baltimore firefighters
BALTIMORE - Community members continue to wrap their arms around the loved ones of two fallen Baltimore City firefighters.
EMT/firefighter Rodney W. Pitts III and firefighter Dillon Rinaldo died while battling a fire at a Northwest Baltimore home in October 2023.
Jimmy's Famous Seafood hosted a fundraiser on Sunday for families of the firefighters.
Dozens showed up, lending support and honoring the two fallen heroes.
"The fire department in this city," event sponsor Brittany Whitby said. "I feel like there is not enough support behind them."
Pitts III and Rinaldo were killed while battling a fire at a home on Liberty Heights Avenue on October 19.
Pitts died the day of the fire, while Rinaldo died a few days later in the hospital.
The fundraiser was called "Heroes Salute at Jimmy's Famous Seafood," which helped support the families.
WJZ's Rick Ritter was the emcee for the event.
Pitts' mother, Monica Gant, told WJZ she was blown away by all of the love from the community.
"The support is keeping me going," Gant said. "It's just incredible. It really touches my heart. I didn't expect any of this and I'm just so overwhelmed and so grateful and so humbled to everybody for doing this because nobody had to do it."
This is the third year in a row at Jimmy's Famous has hosted this fundraiser.
The owners first held it after this tragic fire at a vacant rowhome on Stricker Street in West Baltimore in January of 2022. Three Baltimore City firefighters were killed.
The staff at Jimmy's say they want to make sure the families of these fallen heroes are always supported.
"For the great purpose of letting the families know that Baltimore is here for them now and Baltimore is always going to be here for them," said John Minadakis, Jimmy's Famous Seafood President.
All of the proceeds go director to the families of the fallen firefighters.
