QUEENS, N.Y. - Less than a week after an explosive fire destroyed his restaurant Zen Yai Noodle in Sunnyside, Queens, Brian Chuntun says he's "Sad, lost, worried."

He joined around a thousand other community members and volunteers Monday at Sunnyside Community Services Center to raise money for those who lost their jobs.

"Right now because it’s Christmas I have a lot of staff so I am a little worried so I am going to try to put them in places that I know," Chuntun said.

• Five-Alarm Fire Destroys Row of Sunnyside Businesses

The cold weather didn’t stop crowds of people from waiting in line for one of two sessions.

"Of course we want to support our community members we’re just coming here to lend a helping hand," said Sabrina Ramos, a local resident.

The goal of the event is to reach $100,000 goal on the GoFundMe page that was set up by community groups.   

"It's amazing how people rallied around us it is really a tragedy," said Sunnyside Community Services Executive Diector Julie Zangweill. "These were established businesses that a lot of people in the community had relationships with."

Relationships that they’ll work to continue despite last week’s inferno.

"All the meals we had at Sidetracks and New York Eats, the UPS store, it’s just devastating," said one resident. "There is a gaping wound on Queens Boulevard."

Residents and business owners say they hope to mend that wound with more events like these in the future.

Earlier Monday there was a career fair to help connect those who lost their livelihoods with new companies and get them back on their feet.