An important tribute has been paid to the Diocese of Brooklyn for their heroic efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Friday, May 21, 2021, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams held a special ceremony at Borough Hall to recognize the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn’s Emergency Task Force, which was formed during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist first responders and frontline workers.
Over the course of the pandemic, the task force was able to coordinate the procurement and delivery of 500,000 masks, 100,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, and 40,000 gloves to police departments, fire departments, hospitals, nursing homes, and other entities in need throughout the state.
Moreover, they also helped deliver 50,000 pizzas to more than 40 hospitals and medical centers as a show of gratitude to the healthcare workers fighting the pandemic day in and out.
Borough President Adams presented the members of the task force with citations on behalf of the borough of Brooklyn, and thanked them for their tireless efforts to keep New Yorkers safe.
EXAUDI spoke with Emergency Task Force founder and leader, Vinny LeVien, following the ceremony and about the work.
About the ceremony, he said: “Borough President Adams and his staff took the pandemic seriously early on and he collaborated with us on many of the donations that took place in and around Brooklyn. It’s been an honor to work with him.”
“The Emergency Task Force team and I,” he noted, “are grateful for the recognition and his sincere gesture of appreciation.”
About their tireless work during the pandemic which plagued the city, he recalled: “We procured and distributed PPE [personal protective equipment] back when it was very difficult to obtain. The first responders and organizations we donated to know this and haven’t forgotten our role in helping them to save the lives of others and their own”.
