By Paddy McCarthy
What can I say? Only that the Coronavirus seems to have taken over all the editorial coverage with this horrible sickness raging all over the world. I do not want to be bickering about what some politicians are doing after all, most of them do not know what they are talking about.
Look, I have a saying myself: “horses for courses”. So leave it to the professionals in the sciences and the medical teams who do know what they are doing and don’t be playing with people’s lives.
If you watch them on TV or listen to them on the radio they can come across as if they were experts, they are not, so please, sit down with the people who do know and behaving as if they know because they do not. I want to move on and hopefully have this virus gone forever as we will never in my lifetime anyway see anything like this again.
I always said I do not want to be political and I am not; I just want the right information from the right people to be heard, that’s all.
I have to say as well that there are a lot of organizations that could do with our help so I am recommending some of them that The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Board has been publicizing and we are very glad to do the same.
Despite the positive signs of decreased admissions to ICU, flattening of the curve, and a slightly lower daily death rate,the death toll from COVID-19 in New York has now exceeded 10,000. While things on the ground have improved slightly, there is still a tremendous need for equipment for the men and women on the front line, therefore the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade reissued their request that you support their program to help the 69th Regiment, NYPD and FDNY.
Please do consider donating to any or all of these organizations in this time of great need. Below we list contact information and needs for each individual organization.
First you can support members of the 69th Regiment affected by Covid-19 by donating to the Sixty-ninth Infantry Regiment Historical Trust, a 501-(c)-3, not-for-profit organization. You may donate directly to the 69th Historical Trust to either Paypal at https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GAQWWT4ZUXQMW or by mailing a check payable to Sixty-ninth Infantry Regiment Historical Trust, Attention: Col. James Tierney Ret, 68 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
If you have questions, email Col. James Tierney at jt@jptierney.com.
The men and women of the FDNY bravely answer calls for help day and night. EMS members are currently responding to unprecedented number of medical emergencies each day.
Please consider donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or assist the families of members affected by COVID-19 by donating to the FDNY Covid-19 Emergency Fund.
Donations of PPE can be sent directly to The FDNY Ceremonial Unit, Attention: Lt Joe LaPointe, 135 General Berry Drive, Fort Totten, Bayside, Queens 11359 while donations can be made to the FDNY Foundation, the official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of the New York City Fire Department at https://www.fdnyfoundation.org/donate.
Donations will directly support members and their families who are suffering from this pandemic. Help support those brave men and women on the front line of this battle. If you have questions, please contact the FDNY Foundation at (718) 999-0779 or info@fdnyfoundation.org.
Finally you can help protect the officers of the NYPD who are on the front lines. The NYC Police Foundation, a 501-(c)-3, not-for-profit organization is spearheading an emergency effort to secure supplies and other resources that the NYPD needs at this critical time.
The Foundation wants to purchased masks, gloves and packets of hand sanitizer for police officers on the front lines protecting the public during the Coronavirus pandemic. This equipment will help keep officers physically safe.
Donations from the public can be referred to Captain Brighid O’Neil at Brighid.Oneil@NYPD.Org and you should also cc: Sergeant Bryan Delarosa at Bryan.Delarosa@NYPD.Org.
Emails should specify the name of the organization donating (if applicable) along with the quantity and a complete description of the equipment. Pease send photos of the actual equipment for donation and the best point of contact.
Monetary donation should be directed to the Police Foundation who will then purchase PPE and other needed items. Visit https://www.nycpolicefoundation.org/covid19 to donate online or mail a check to New York City Police Foundation, Inc. 555 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10017 or call (212) 751-8170.
All the organizations listed her=e are 501-(c)-3, not for profit organizations, so your donations are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by law.
If you require additional information about supporting the Parade’s efforts you can contact Hilary Beirne at (914) 473-4000 or email hbeirne@NYCStPatricksParade.Org.
As I have been saying since this Coronavirus started spreading we will print all information for any organization who would like to get the word out on what is happening and we are.
I myself have been quarantined for now over a month and believe me it is not fun, but it has to be done and I hope you feel likewise.
Thank you so much and as I said I hope to be Out&About again fairly soon. See you all again next week.