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Avella donation drive to aid sextuplet couple

By Stephen Stirling

A big family comes with big needs.

City Councilman Tony Avella (D−Bayside) asked for help last week for Whitestone residents Digna and Victor Carpio, who are going to need a lot of diapers in the coming weeks.

Ecuadorian native Digna Carpio, 31, is 24 weeks pregnant with sextuplets and her husband joined Avella last week for the start of a collection drive to help the family cope with the massive financial cost that six new children brings.

“I would just like to say I am very appreciative of the help that Councilman Avella is providing by reaching out to New Yorkers and local businesses,” Victor Carpio said. “We are very grateful for all of this.”

Victor said the family has been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support since news of his wife’s unusual pregnancy broke last month.

“We really did not expect anything like this,” he said.

Avella is asking residents and local businesses to contribute anything they can from a list of direly needed baby supplies. The list includes diapers, milk, baby bottles, baby wipes, undershirts, blankets, towels, sheets, strollers, car seats, highchairs and cribs.

“I encourage all New Yorkers to stop by my district office throughout the month of October to donate these much−needed baby supplies,” Avella said.

Digna Carpio told the Daily News the family has been trying unsuccessfully for years to have a second child, saying they did not want their first son, 7−year−old Jhancarlos, to grow up an only child.

If Digna Carpio’s pregnancy is successful, she will be only the second woman in state history to give birth to sextuplets. In 1997, former Queens resident Beverly Boniello gave birth to four boys and two girls, all of whom survived and are now 11 years old.

For more information on how to donate, call Avella’s office at 718−747−2137.

Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e−mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, ext. 138.