Borough President James Oddo is pleased to announce that his office will be helping Cut Red Tape 4 Heroes and Super Health Pharmacy to bring essential PPE to Richmond University Medical Center staff. Cut Red Tape 4 Heroes puts free personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies directly in the hands of NYC doctors, nurses, healthcare staff, frontline workers and those in need by parking its donation truck outside of medical centers and offering PPE to anyone with a hospital badge.

Today, Tuesday, May 12, starting at 1:30pm, Cut Red Tape 4 Heroes will park their donation truck outside of Richmond University Medical Center to distribute 4,000 kits and additional supplies to anyone with a hospital badge. The pre-packaged PPE kits include: 1 face shield, 1 KN95 and 7 surgical masks. In addition the volunteers will be refilling hand sanitizer bottles, handing out gowns and Tyvek coverings based on availability.

“Thank you to Cut Red Tape 4 Heroes and Super Health Pharmacy for including our office in this distribution effort for our frontline healthcare workers. We continue to  work collaboratively in an all-out effort with every possible source to find supplies for those helping our community through this crisis,” noted Borough President James Oddo.  

Borough Hall is pleased to be involved in today’s effort, and is looking forward to future collaborative efforts with these organizations to bring PPE to Staten Island’s frontline workers.

This fundraiser, organized by Rhonda Roland Shearer on behalf of Art Science Research Laboratory Inc. in partnership with Housing Works, has distributed PPE to more than 15K healthcare workers and those at risk across the city and has purchased more than 1 million PPEs to date. The initiative, which was initially paid for by Rhonda’s own home equity line, is being funded via donations raised on www.cutredtape4heroes.org.  

“We are heartened that Borough President James Oddo is going to help and distribute PPE supplies today. The needs for PPE have been huge here in Staten Island,” said Rhonda Roland Shearer, founder of Cut Red Tape 4 Heroes and Director of Art Science Research Laboratory.  “Beyond PPE, we are bringing dignity and respect to these frontline workers and saying to them that we see you, we thank you, and we have your back."

Super Health Pharmacy, a local Staten Island pharmacy, has provided trucking, banners, and PPE discounts to the project. 
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“Super Health Pharmacy is super excited to be able to help out neighbors at Richmond University Medical Center during this time in partnership with Cut Red Tape 4 Heroes. This is what it is all about, helping our community and getting things done,” said Mayank Parikh, Super Health Pharmacy. ​

Borough President James Oddo, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and the United Federation of Teachers are pleased to announce the continued success of the “Feeding Our Frontline” initiative, a partnership established April 1, 2020, with local restaurants and caterers to provide grab & go meals to hospital staffs at Staten Island University Hospital (both the North and South campuses) and Richmond University Medical Center. The program has been able to continue thus far as a result of generous partners and members of the community who have made donations for the meals. 

The collaborative would like to extend special appreciation to National Grid, who have signed on as a $10,000 Corporate Sponsor of the initiative. 

As of Monday morning, $65,770 has been donated in total to the initiative, with donations beginning at a $35 contribution to feed five healthcare workers. Borough President Oddo, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and UFT extend their gratitude to all those who have donated and those who have come forward as sponsors to ensure this program can continue.

So far, 8,704 grab & go meals have been provided for Staten Island healthcare workers. The collaborative partnered with local businesses A&S Caterers & Luncheonette, A Taste of Honey Caterers, Aunt Butchies of Brooklyn, Beyar’s Market and The Stone House who have all stepped up to provide meals at $7 per meal. Additionally, three weeks ago, 330 pizzas were delivered from Campania Coal Fired Pizza, Ciro Pizza Cafe, Millie's of Staten Island and DiLeo's Pizzeria to SIUH, RUMC, as well as Staten Island’s skilled nursing facilities. 

The collaborative would like to thank the following corporate sponsors of the “Feeding Our Frontline” initiative: National Grid, Former Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson, Matrix Development Group, The Staten Island Yankees, Sunrise Office Services, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Plus, Miller's Launch/Miller's Tug & Barge, Former City Councilmember Sal Albanese, Cheriyn Hoti, Ana Patricia Cosentino, C.B. Contracting Corp., Deputy Borough President Edward Burke, Former City Councilmember Fred Cerullo, Notre Dame Club of Staten Island - Bread of Life Food Drive, Rebecca DelVecchio, Richmond County Baseball Club, Rossana Pontecorvo, Wendy’s (The Rawson Group), Ronald Raguso, Moving Pictures Inc., Joseph Simone, Anne Marie and Robert Rautenstrauch, Ashleigh Owens, Donald and Kathleen Helt, Jean Giobbie, M/M Frank  Coccaro, Lisa Pratti, Robert Ryan, and the Sisters of St. Dorothy.

To kick off the program, the Borough President, the United Federation of Teachers, Community Television, and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce donated over $15,000 to feed hospital staff.  

“We are grateful for the support our community has shown this program that allows us to offer free meals to our healthcare workers as they fight this crisis on the frontline. The work our nurses and front line healthcare workers do each day is nothing short of heroic. Any and every donation is welcome so we may continue to show our appreciation for their daily strength and caring. Thank you to UFT and the SI Chamber of Commerce for continuing to partner with us to meet this need,” said Borough President Jim Oddo.

“You can always count on Staten Islanders to come together when you need them the most. It’s been wonderful to see so much generosity as both businesses and residents continue to contribute to this initiative. We send a big thank you to all of our essential workers who have been working tirelessly to take care of our community,” said Linda Baran, President & CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.  “The Chamber thanks Borough President Oddo and our partners, we are honored to take part in an effort that supports our hospital workers while supporting our local businesses as well.”

“We are proud to support this wonderful initiative and thankful for the opportunity to provide food to our frontline workers, who are beyond courageous.  They selflessly perform their jobs to keep us healthy and safe, and we thank you!” said Carol T. Decina, Manager of Customer and Community Engagement, nationalgrid. 

Borough President Oddo, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and UFT also extend their gratitude to those who have used their respective platforms to promote the “Feeding Our Frontline” Initiative, including the Staten Island Advance for covering the program on multiple occasions, as well as those in the Staten Island Delegation and all community partners and constituents who have shared the donation link to help get the word out to the greater Staten Island universe.
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To make a donation or join the program as a sponsor, please visit https://statenislandnycoc.wliinc19.com/mc-forms/feeding-our-front-line.aspx. ​

Borough President James Oddo is pleased to announce his office has facilitated the donation of Personal Protective Equipment and other vital supplies for local Staten Island community organizations in need via community donors who have offered up their available supplies through Borough Hall’s online donation portal, created specifically for this purpose. Borough President Oddo is also pleased to announce, through his partnership with the Staten Island Community Organizations Active in Disaster coalition, the purchase of PPE and supplies from Superhealth Pharmacy to further fill the gaps of supply needs.​

Donations have been allocated to the following community organizations: 26 group homes and adult care facilities, 6 CBOs, as well as Richmond Engine Company 1, Visiting Nurse Association, Primary Care Ambulance, Volunteer Heart Ambulance, Hope Home Care, and The Stella Orton Home Care Agency, Inc.

“We continue to work collaboratively in an all-out effort with every possible source to find supplies for our community organizations on the front line in need during this crisis. We are extremely grateful to each organization and constituent who has stepped up to help fill this critical need. Staten Islanders supporting Staten Islanders, that is the good news coming out of this crisis,” noted Borough President Oddo.

In March, Borough Hall opened an online supply donation portal for dentists, physicians, veterinarians that are closed or seeing less patients, as well as community organizations, pharmacies, construction companies, hardware stores, HVAC companies, cleaning companies, nail salons and the like to donate personal protective equipment and other needed supplies for our frontline responders, healthcare workers and social service providers.

Borough President Oddo would like to extend his gratitude to the following generous donors who submitted their available supplies for donation to local organizations through the online portal: 

• Amos and Zalina Reginald, who donated 700 Gloves, 48 Kimberly Clark XL white suits, 160 KN95 Masks, and a 6-Pack of Micro Bacterial Liquid Soap 
• The Boy Scouts of America, who donated 5,000 new, unopened Neckerchiefs
• Jason Rivera, who donated 30 Face Shields and Face Masks Ear Savers
• Rongyao Huang, who donated 200 3-Ply Disposable Masks
• The Rotary Club of Staten Island, which donated 1,200 Hazmat Suits 
• South Shore residents David, Melissa, and their daughter, who donated 150 Face Shields and 200 Gloves
• The U.S. Social Security Office, which donated 500 N95 Masks

Each donor was connected with Staten Island community organizations to arrange the donation of the supplies between their respective parties. 

Borough President Oddo also announced today that through Borough Hall’s partnership with the Staten Island Not For Profit Association’s (SINFPA) Community Organizations Active in Disaster coalition, the following supplies were purchased from Superhealth Pharmacy for our community's frontline healthcare workers and providers of critical services:

• 5,500 3-Ply Disposable Mask
• 500 Vinyl, Powder Free, Latex Free X-Large Gloves
• 500 Vinyl, Powder Free, Latex Free Small Gloves
• 400 Vinyl, Powder Free, Latex Free Medium Gloves
• 4,000 Nitrile Medium Gloves
• 2,000 Nitrile Large Gloves
• 50 16-oz. Hand Sanitizer 
• 12 gallons Hand Sanitizer
• 75 plastic gowns
• 300 KN95 Mask

The funds for this purchase were raised via the SINFPA COVID-19 Supplies Fund donations, of which a majority were raised via donations from Borough Hall’s partnership with James Cox to make his tribute piece “Thank You” available to the public. For more information on this partnership: click here.
Borough Hall is still accepting donations through its online donation portal. Any offices interested in donating should visit www.statenislandusa.com/PPE and fill out the intake form. A staff member from Borough Hall will be in touch shortly to arrange your donation.

Borough President James S. Oddo announced today that his office has partnered with Richmond County Medical Society (RCMS) and the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness (SIPCW) to launch a COVID-19 content specific website for physicians and health care providers that offers resources for themselves and their practices, as well as for dissemination to their patients.
 
The extensive website offers telemedicine resources, malpractice guidance, updated guidelines on testing and PPE use, research studies and literature, community resources, along with wellness resources for doctors and their patients. Providers can access the healthcare webpage at www.covid19si.com. 
 
Telehealth (also known as virtual visits) has become an integral part of the healthcare system during the COVID-19 crisis. It is a useful and safe way practitioners can provide medical assistance to meet patient needs while maintaining social distancing. Given that many practices are just utilizing this technology now in light of the crisis, the site provides literature on regulatory, primary care, behavioral health and best practices from courses such as the federal government and American Medical Association (AMA).
 
“Our way of life has changed drastically during this crisis, and in turn so has the way medical care is provided. We want to be sure everyone has the tools they need to get through this crisis, which is why I am grateful to partner with the Richmond County Medical Society and the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness to provide our medical professionals with these resources. We will get through this challenging time, but we must continue to work together to do so,” said Borough President Jim Oddo.   
 
The website includes the ability for doctors, nurses, physicians assistants and other medical professionals to sign up to volunteer their expertise at the hospitals or nursing homes based on their skill/comfort level.
 
“We are using technology to give the Staten Island Healthcare Community clinically accurate information to better serve our patients. The web site is designed to provide world class information with a local insight into the pandemic. Healthcare workers can sign up to volunteer to work on Staten Island in a setting where that healthcare worker is clinically comfortable. All financial donations made on the website are to the Staten Island Not for Profit Association and earmarked to provide equipment and medical supplies to those Staten Island organizations that are in need during this crisis,” said Dr. John Maese, Richmond County Medical Society (RCMS).
 
A key component of the website focuses on mental health resources for patients and wellness/self care for the health care providers themselves. In order for community health care professionals to effectively take care of their patients, they must be able to help themselves first, and make sure they are mentally and emotionally prepared to help their patients.
 
“COVID-19 is putting tremendous emotional strain both on the healthcare providers responding to the pandemic and to the larger community who are at risk of developing anxiety, depression and substance misuse. It’s important for health practitioners to have access to self-care tools and local behavioral health resources both for themselves and for their patients,” said Adrienne Abbate, Executive Director, Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness (SIPCW).
 
Medical professionals can access ongoing clinical trials and scientific papers, as well as research from around the world, which give guidance on how to manage and treat COVID-19 patients using best practices and lessons learned. Additionally, due to ever changing and numerous guidelines on testing and PPE being distributed across various sectors, the COVID-19 SI site provides a central portal to access guidance for use from agencies such as the CDC, NYC DOHMH and NYS DOH.
 
Through the website, health care providers can also make donations to support the COVID-19 response efforts of the Staten Island Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) / Medical Ecosystem (MES), a coalition managed by the Staten Island Not-For-Profit Association, in which the Office of Staten Island Borough President has an active role.

On April 1, 2020, Borough President James S. Oddo announced his office partnered with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, the United Federation of Teachers and local restaurants and caterers for “Feeding Our Frontline,” a program that provides grab & go meals to hospital staffs at Staten Island University Hospital (both the North and South campuses) and Richmond University Medical Center. 3,000 meals have been provided so far, with another 1,500 planned to be served this week.
 
To kick off the program, the Borough President, the United Federation of Teachers, Community Television, and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce donated over $15,000 to feed hospital staff. The collaborative partnered with local businesses A&S Caterers & Luncheonette, A Taste of Honey Caterers, Aunt Butchies of Brooklyn, Beyar’s Market and The Stone House who have all stepped up to provide meals at $7 per meal. 
 
Today, the following local pizzerias will be providing meals to hospital staffs at Staten Island University Hospital (both the North and South campuses) and Richmond University Medical Center: 80 pies from Campania Coal Fired Pizza, 20 pies from Ciro Pizza Café, 65 pies from DiLeo’s Pizzeria and 100 pies from Millie’s of Staten Island.
 
The program has been able to continue thus far as a result of generous partners and members of the community who have made donations for the meals. As of Monday morning, $38,965 has been donated to the initiative, with donations beginning at a $35 contribution to feed five healthcare workers. Borough President Oddo, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and UFT extend their gratitude to all those who have donated and those who have come forward as sponsors to ensure this program can continue.
 
The collaborative would like to thank the following corporate sponsors of the “Feeding Our Frontline” initiative: Former Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson, UFT President Mike Mulgrew, The Staten Island Yankees, Sunrise Office Services, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Plus, Miller's Launch/Miller's Tug & Barge, Former City Councilmember Sal Albanese, Ana Patricia Cosentino, C.B. Contracting Corp., Deputy Borough President Edward Burke, Former City Councilmember Fred Cerullo, Notre Dame Club of Staten Island - Bread of Life Food Drive, Richmond County Baseball Club, Rossana Pontecorvo, Joseph Simone, Anne Marie and Robert Rautenstrauch, Ashleigh Owens, Donald and Kathleen Helt, Jean Giobbie, M/M Frank  Coccaro, Robert Ryan, and the Sisters of St. Dorothy.
 
Borough President Oddo, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and UFT also extend their gratitude to those who have used their respective platforms to promote the “Feeding Our Frontline” Initiative, including the Staten Island Advance for covering the program on multiple occasions, as well as those in the Staten Island Delegation and all community partners and constituents who have shared the donation link to help get the word out to the greater Staten Island universe.
 
“We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed to help us serve free meals for our nurses and frontline healthcare workers in order to show our appreciation for their daily strength and caring. As we fight each day to get them the supplies they need, the least we can do is continue to get them some food to eat. We appreciate A&S Caterers & Luncheonette, A Taste of Honey Caterers, Aunt Butchies of Brooklyn, Beyar’s Market and The Stone House, as well as Campania, Millie’s of Staten Island and DiLeo’s Pizza, for working with us to get to a price point that makes this program doable,” said Borough President Jim Oddo.
 
“You can always count on Staten Islanders to come together when you need them the most. It’s been wonderful to see so much generosity as both businesses and residents continue to contribute to this initiative. We send a big thank you to all of our essential workers who have been working tirelessly to take care of our community,” said Linda Baran, President & CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.  “The Chamber thanks Borough President Oddo and our partners, we are honored to take part in an effort that supports our hospital workers while supporting our local businesses as well.”
 
“I want to thank everyone who has stepped up to support this initiative.  Our frontline workers during the pandemic deserve all the support we can give them,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew.
 
Click here to make a donation or join the program as a sponsor. 

​As the entire Staten Island Delegation continues to work together to address the COVID-19 outbreak, Borough President James S. Oddo announced today he has appointed disaster management guru Brad Gair to serve as a pro bono Special Advisor to Borough Hall and the entire Staten Island Delegation.
 
Brad Gair, a disaster recovery expert with more than 25 years of emergency management experience in areas hit by natural and man-made disasters, served as director of housing recovery operations under Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Prior to this, Brad served as Deputy Commissioner with the New York City Office of Emergency Management as well as a FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer, including serving as Federal Recovery Officer in New York City after 9/11 and in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.
 
"Governor Cuomo announced yesterday he’s bringing back to his team some trusted old hands who had previously worked for his Administration. We think that is a smart approach, and we are happy to tell Staten Island we are partnering again with Brad Gair; he will be a pro bono Special Advisor to Borough Hall and the Staten Island elected delegation,” noted Borough President Oddo.
 
“Brad and Staten Island walked many of those initial long miles after Sandy, and although there were some animated moments in those early days, a deep respect was earned and built. Brad is a cool head, an experienced voice, has a perspective from 20,000 feet, and yet still has the ability to see the minutiae on the ground. He will join our daily conference calls, and will be available around the clock for guidance.”