Fuel Saves Lives: A Southie Family Helping Communities After Disaster
When a natural disaster strikes, food, water, and shelter are usually the first necessities that come to mind. But there’s another resource that can quickly become critical: fuel.
That’s where Fuel Relief Fund comes in.
The nonprofit is the only charitable organization in the world focused exclusively on providing emergency fuel assistance following natural disasters and complex emergencies. Its volunteers deploy around the world to distribute free gasoline and diesel to victims, first responders, hospitals, water treatment facilities, and other essential operations.
For South Boston native and Boston Fire Cadet Matthew Fumarola, the organization’s mission is also a family affair.
It Started with Uncle Joe
(Catherine, Brendan, and Joe Lee in Nepal providing fuel to victims of the most recent landslide)
Matthew’s family became involved with Fuel Relief Fund through his uncle, Joe Lee, a recently retired Boston firefighter who served with Rescue Company 2 and spent much of his career at Ladder 29.
After the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, Joe traveled there to volunteer and met Fuel Relief Fund founder Ted Honcharik. Honcharik had started the organization following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when he loaded one of his own fuel tankers and drove from California to give away fuel to people affected by the disaster.
Joe eventually joined the organization and has since responded to disasters around the world and major hurricanes across the United States.
“I always remembered Joe as the family member who was doing all this incredible work in crazy corners of the world,” Matthew said.
As the younger generation grew up, Joe began recruiting them, too. Matthew, Donald Holmes, Andrew Lee, and Catherine Lee have all volunteered, along with several other members of the extended family.
“Because of Joe Lee and Ted Honcharik, this has turned into a family affair,” Matthew said, adding that disaster response has become a common topic around the dinner table.
A Mission in Nepal
That work is continuing right now in Nepal, where Matthew’s uncles Joe and Brendan Lee and cousin Catherine Lee are responding to flooding and landslides.
(Brendan Lee in Nepal)
The team is working with local governments and other disaster-response organizations to distribute free gasoline and diesel. With bridges destroyed, volunteers have had to get creative.
According to Matthew, the team is using drones and zip lines to transport barrels of fuel across a river — a first for Fuel Relief Fund. That fuel is helping power generators at Trishuli Hospital.
It’s a perfect example of the organization’s motto: “Fuel Saves Lives.”
Fuel can keep first responders moving, generators running, hospitals operating, and water treatment facilities functioning when normal infrastructure has been destroyed.
Catherine Joins the Family Mission
For Catherine Lee, the mission in Nepal marks her first deployment with Fuel Relief Fund.
On September 2nd, Catherine began the 24-plus-hour journey to Kathmandu alongside her uncles Joe and Brendan. While the two are experienced Fuel Relief Fund volunteers, Catherine is getting a firsthand look at the work she has heard about from family members for years.
The oldest daughter of Andrew and Erin Lee, Catherine grew up in South Boston and has been involved in the community from a young age. A Boston Latin School graduate, she has worked at the South Boston Boys & Girls Club, volunteered with Catholic Heart Workcamp, and worked on the launch at the Boston Harbor Yacht Club.
Now 22 and a recent graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, Catherine chose to spend some of the time between college and starting her professional career helping communities affected by disaster.
Growing up, she heard countless stories from her uncles, cousins, and younger brother about their own disaster-response trips to places ranging from Florida, Louisiana, and Kentucky to Mozambique and Morocco.
Now, Catherine is getting the chance to carry that work forward.
From Southie to Disaster Zones Around the World
(Brendan Lee, Laura Lee, and Matthew Fumarola assisting a family in Mayfield, Kentucky with fuel needs following a tornado)
Matthew first volunteered with Fuel Relief Fund as a high school sophomore after Hurricane Irma hit Florida. He later joined the team in Fort Myers following Hurricane Ian, helping provide free fuel to residents, first responders, and those relying on generators.
(Donald Holmes filling up a fuel bladder in order to bring necessary resources to remote areas in Louisiana following Hurricane Ida)
After college, Matthew worked in disaster response, traveling to places including Kenya, India, and Israel.
Today, he’s a Boston Fire Cadet and hopes to follow in his uncle Joe’s footsteps and become a Boston firefighter. While he can’t currently travel on deployments, he continues to support Fuel Relief Fund with logistics and social media.
For Matthew and his family, helping communities when they need it most has truly become a family tradition.
Main image: (Matthew Fumarola, Joe Lee, and Michiel Bongers landing (via helicopter) in Fort Myers, Florida after assisting with fuel delivery on Pine Island)
Here’s how you can help by making a donation:
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/fuel-for-nepal-flood-relief/
Maureen Dahill is the founder of Caught in Media. Once a longtime wardrobe and prop stylist for brands such as Rue La La, TJ Max & Hasbro, she is a devoted lover of vintage clothing, Martini Mondays, Castle Island, AND a 4th generation South Boston native. Mother of three, married to Peter G.
Celebrate South Boston Community Health Center at the 2026 Harbor of Hope Auction + Cocktail Reception
Welcome to the Neighborhood – A note from Caught in Southie’s Founder and Editor
Lace Up for the Annual Colin’s Joy Project 5K