Approximately 300 people turned out for the Mineola Junior Fire Department’s pancake breakfast on Sunday to raise money for South Shore residents recovering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
Those attending contributed $10 to the cause, which was the brainchild of department ex-chief Gary Mazur and Brian Strauss, former captain of the junior firefighter volunteers. Mazur shares responsibilities as advisor of the junior firefighters with Bill Grisalfi.
“This is to benefit everybody,” Mazur said. “We try to get the kids involved more to do service.”
Strauss and Mazur said they felt the junior fire department should do something to help those in need. Donations from the pancake breakfast will be used to purchase gift cards for residents in the Long Beach and Lido Beach areas, to be distributed through the fire departments in those municipalities. Local residents also donated canned food and other supplies to be donated to residents in those south shore communities.
“People are in dire need now,” said Grisalfi.
More than a dozen members of the Mineola junior firefighter unit were on hand to prepared and serve the pancakes.
Village of Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss, a longtime member of the fire department, was also working at the griddle turning out the flapjacks.”
Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow1 and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
