From left, Nassau County Police Department Commissioner Patrick Ryder, Office of Asian American Affairs Executive Director Farrah Mozawalla; Joseph Sakhai and Legislator Birnbaum on Friday, May 8.
(GREAT NECK and MINEOLA, N.Y.) - Nassau County Legislator Ellen W. Birnbaum (D – Great Neck) joined Great Neck resident Joseph Sakhai and Farrah Mozawalla, Executive Director of the Office of Asian American Affairs, to deliver a donation of 1,500 protective masks to Nassau County Police Department Commissioner Patrick Ryder on Friday, May 8.
The donation, which was made to Nassau County on behalf of Great Neck’s vibrant Iranian-American Jewish community in conjunction with the County’s Office of Asian American Affairs, included 500 KN95 masks and 1,000 surgical masks. It represents the community’s latest effort to provide essential personal protective equipment (PPE) to Nassau County first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previously, on Thursday, April 30, Legislator Birnbaum joined Sakhai and Dany Shavolian as they delivered 2,000 KN95 masks and 500 surgical masks to Commissioner Ryder at police headquarters. Those masks were donated by a coalition of more than a dozen Great Neck-area synagogues and the larger Great Neck community.
Organizers said the donations are an expression of gratitude for NCPD’s tireless work during the COVID-19 pandemic and its unwavering commitment to protecting the public.
“We are all one. We’ve been blessed by this country, and we were honored to do anything we can to support the police force, firefighters and the frontline responders,” Sakhai said. “We are here for your as you have always been there for us.”
“The men and women of the Nassau County Police Department have responded to these uncertain times with a level of professionalism, selflessness and courage that has comforted and reassured the public,” Legislator Birnbaum said. “I thank Joseph Sakhai for his wonderful efforts and applaud Great Neck residents for their generosity and willingness to support first responders and their families.”
From left – Dany Shavolian, Legislator Birnbaum, Joseph Sakhai and Commissioner Ryder outside police headquarters on Thursday, May 30.