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. 

Borough President James S. Oddo announced today that his office has partnered with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, the United Federation of Teachers and local restaurants and caterers for a new program “Feeding Our Frontline.”
 
Beginning today, “Feeding Our Frontline” will provide grab & go meals to hospital staffs at Staten Island University Hospital (both the North and South campuses) and Richmond University Medical Center.
 
To kick off the program, the Borough President, the United Federation of Teachers, Community Television, and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce have donated over $15,000 to feed hospital staff, partnering with local restaurants and caterers who have stepped up to provide meals at $7 per meal.  Each mealtime, 1,400 total meals will be served.
 
Additionally, the collaborative is making it possible for community partners and members of the community to contribute as well. The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce will accept monetary donations for the meals on their website. Anyone who wishes may make a donation to help feed our dedicated hospital staff. The donations begin at a $35 contribution, which will feed five healthcare workers.
 
The United Federation of Teachers also has begun its own separate program, providing free meals three times a week to its 1,000 nurse members at Staten Island University South and NYU Brooklyn.
 
“What our nurses and front line healthcare workers are doing each day is nothing short of heroic. As we fight each day to get them the supplies they need, the least we can do is get them some food to eat at the hospital or maybe take home,” said Borough President Jim Oddo. “We are thrilled to partner with the Chamber, CTV, the UFT and local restaurants to meet this need.”
 
“The Chamber is privileged to take part in the Feeding Our Frontline initiative.  This collective effort is a small gesture to show our appreciation for all the essential workers who are selflessly taking care of our community.  At the same time, it also allows us to support our local businesses when sorely needed,” said Linda Baran, President & CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.
 
UFT President Micahel Mulgrew said, "I want to thank everyone who has stepped up to help.  It’s important that we do all that we can to support our nurses and other healthcare workers during this crisis."
 
“Borough President Oddo has been a solid partner with us, supporting our healthcare heroes at RUMC since the very beginning,” RUMC president and chief executive officer, Daniel J. Messina, PhD, FACHE, said. “On behalf of everyone at RUMC our tremendous thanks to the borough president, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, the United Federation of Teachers and our local restaurants for thinking of us. You will be forever in our hearts.”
 
“It has been a relief to know that we can count on our Borough President, Chamber, local delegates and unions during such a difficult healthcare challenge. They have been a true partner and support system to Staten Island University Hospital,” Dr. Brahim Ardolic, Executive Director of Staten Island University Hospital.
 
To make a donation or join the program as a sponsor, please visit https://statenislandnycoc.wliinc19.com/events/Feeding-Our-Frontline-265/detail

Joint statement by Borough President Oddo, Congressman Max Rose, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, Senator Diane Savino, Senator Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblyman Mike Reilly, Assemblyman Charles Fall, Councilman Steven Matteo, Councilman Joe Borelli, and Councilwoman Debi Rose: “Common ground, common effort. This is how we, as your Staten Island representatives, have operated in response to this crisis, and now we are calling on our constituents to do the same. If you are, or know someone who is, willing to share their time and expertise to fight this crisis your service will be deeply appreciated. We thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership through this crisis, and for his work to expand testing in New York City.”
 
In response to the growing number of COVID-19 case numbers, Governor Andrew Cuomo has authorized a drive-through testing facility to open on Staten Island, the first facility of its kind in New York City. The facility will open tomorrow, Thursday, March 19, 2020. At this time, Borough President James Oddo and the Staten Island delegation are working closely with the Office of the Governor and Northwell Health to facilitate swab testing for COVID-19 to those who meet the necessary criteria. The testing is open to New York City Residents by appointment only from 11am to 7 pm tomorrow and from 7 am to 7 pm beginning Friday at South Beach Psych Center (777 Seaview Avenue).
 
Anyone who feels they are at risk should contact the NYS DOH Hotline at 888-364-3065 to determine if and how to be tested. If it is determined an individual needs to be tested, they will receive notice directly from NYS DOH. An appointment must be made in order to receive a test. Individuals who show up without an appointment will be turned away.
 
The State and Northwell Health are seeking the help of qualified retired health professionals—including Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses and Physicians—to volunteer to staff the mobile testing unit. If you are a retired health professional and looking to help with the crisis at hand, please consider volunteering. Shifts will be from 7 am to 1 pm and 1 pm to 7 pm.
 
"This testing site is going to be a huge sigh of relief for Staten Islanders with concerns of COVID-19. We thank Governor Cuomo and Staten Island’s elected officials who have once again stepped up for the borough when it needed it most," said Brahim Ardolic, MD, Executive Director of Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell Health. "Staten Island University Hospital is happy to assist in this effort wherever we can. So far, over 120 medical professionals from the hospital have volunteered to help staff the testing site.”
 
Potential volunteers should fill out the following online form to be considered for a volunteer position: https://apps.health.ny.gov/pubpal/builder/survey/retired-health-professional. Volunteers will be prompted to enter their Name, Address, Phone number, New York State Certification Number, Information on last role, and Availability.
 
According to NYS DOH, drive-through mobile testing facilities help keep people who are sick or at risk of having contracted coronavirus out of healthcare facilities where they could infect other people. To that end, the guidance for receiving a COVID-19 test is unchanged from the guidance provided at any other medical facility.
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Until New York State is at full capacity for testing, the Department of Health has issued guidance to ensure that New York State prioritizes the resources to meet the most urgent public health need. Testing for COVID-19 shall be authorized by a health care provider when:

• An individual has come within proximate contact (same classroom, office, or gatherings) of another person known to be positive; or
• An individual has traveled to a country that the CDC has issued a Level 2 or Level 3 Travel Health Notice, and shows symptoms of illness; or
• An individual is quarantined (mandatory or precautionary) and has shown symptoms of COVID-19 illness; or
• An individual is symptomatic and has not tested positive for any other infection; or
• Other cases where the facts and circumstances warrant as determined by the treating clinician in consultation with state and local department of health officials.

 
On Sunday, March 15, 2020, the entire Staten Island delegation made an announcement to encourage Staten Islanders to re-evaluate their social distancing behaviors, including to: Stay home as much as possible; keep 6 feet of distance from others in public; and minimize in-person social contact in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.