April 19, 2020 Your Neighborhood — Your News®
LOCAL
CL ASSIFIEDS
PA GE 7
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 LaGuardia
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 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,
PAPD officers deliver Easter treats to the beleaguered staff at Elmhurst Hospital. Courtesy of PAPD
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. 98 No. 16 UPDATED EVERY DAY AT QNS.COM
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