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April 17-April 23, 2020
Port Authority Police deliver baked
goods to Elmhurst Hospital workers
BY BILL PARRY
Officers from the Port Authority
Police Department
spent their Easter delivering
baked goods to Elmhurst
Hospital and other medical
facilities that have been overwhelmed
with the surge of
COVID-19 patients in New
York and New Jersey.
While on duty recently at
the PAPD command at La-
Guardia Airport, Sergeant
Brian Vitale learned that
rookie PAPD Officer Jessica
Vaccaro’s family business was
facing closure, like so many
other small businesses impacted
during the pandemic.
Vitale began collecting donations
from fellow officers to
purchase baked goods for distribution
to the beleaguered
hospitals.
“Officer Vaccarro is one of
our own and we take care of
our own,” Vitale said. “From
the words of our Chairman
and Executive Director, we
were, and are, and always will
be a team. That is the essence
of the Port Authority.”
Within a few days, Vitale
and his fellow officers raised
more than $6,500 at the PAPD
LGA command and other
PAPD commands.
“I’ve grown up around
the bakery and have watched
them give to other local police
departments, fire departments,
schools and town functions,”
Vaccaro said. “When
I got hired by the PAPD, they
didn’t hesitate to give to us,
too. To see my co-workers
come together and support the
bakery really shows how family
supports family.”
Vaccaro’s mother and aunt
FaceTimed the officers in the
PAPD officers deliver Easter treats to the beleaguered staff at Elmhurst Hospital. Courtesy of PAPD
LGA command to thank them
for their generosity.
“When my niece told me
about this, my husband and I
were shocked,” her aunt, Eileen
Vacarro, said. “We are
all hurting right now, and for
these officers who put their
lives on the line every day
and for them to do this for us,
we couldn’t be more grateful.
They’re incredible.”
She said the donations help
pay the bills at the Vaccaro
Bakery in Cark, N.J., for a
month.
“Our courageous officers
have been on the front lines
since day one, and today these
same officers have gone above
and beyond by showing their
compassion for their fellow
frontline partners who have
endured through the COVID-
19 pandemic by bringing
them a bit of Easter cheer,”
PAPD Superintendent Edward
T. Cetnar said. “We sincerely
appreciate everything our
healthcare heroes have done
during these challenging
times.”
A team of officers delivered
the baked goods to Elmhurst
Hospital, which has been at
the epicenter of the crisis.
“The commitment and dedication
of hospital personnel
has not only been an amazing
display of courage, but a true
demonstration of selflessness,”
Port Authority PBA President
Paul Nunziato said. “They
have never hesitated to come
to our aid; it is now our duty
and desire to provide for them.
While we stand strong on the
COVID-19 pandemic front
lines, I remind all that during
this holy season of spiritual
freedom and rebirth it is the
medical personnel who bring
a new freedom and rebirth to
those in need. We are blessed
by their service.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
Vol. 8, No. 16 24 total pages
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