Mayor de Blasio, Frontline Foods and 9/11 Day Partner to Deliver Meals to FDNY Firefighters, EMTs, Paramedics for International Firefighters' Day

NY City Hall Press Office Photo

NEW YORK — In observance of International Firefighters’ Day and in appreciation of first responders’ efforts in battling the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Frontline Foods and 9/11 Day on Monday, partnered to deliver over 2,700 meals to firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and dispatchers in New York City. This donation is part of Frontline Foods’ and 9/11 Day’s national effort to bring prepared meals to nearly 5,000 first responders in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, Chicago and Phoenix. 9/11 Day provided an initial grant to Frontline Foods of $55,000 to support the first responder meal deliveries.

"Our firefighters, EMTs and paramedics are going above-and-beyond in this crisis," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "On this International Firefighters’ Day, in partnership with Frontline Foods and 9/11 Day, we're making sure they're well fed, too. On behalf of all New Yorkers, thank you for your service to our city."

"We started Frontline Foods with a dual purpose—support our ailing restaurant industry and honor our frontline heroes by providing them with healthy meals during their fight to keep us safe. While we started with clinicians in hospitals, our vision has always been that there are many more groups on the frontline fighting to keep us safe during the crisis. Today we are proud to honor our firefighters and EMS personnel for everything they do, today and every day,” said Frontline Foods co-founding organizer Ryan Sarver.

“We are so pleased to partner with Frontline Foods and local municipalities to recognize our first responders on International Firefighters’ Day. During COVID-19, it’s critical to support these brave men and women who risk their lives for us every single day,” said Jay S. Winuk, co-founder of 9/11 Day and the brother of Glenn Winuk, a volunteer firefighter and EMT who died in the line of duty on 9/11. “Frontline Foods has been a terrific partner in ensuring the delivery of high-quality meals in a safe manner to our first responders, while also supporting local businesses during this difficult time. We thank our 9/11 Day sponsors and local elected officials across all of these communities for their support in helping to provide these meals to those who keep us safe.”

"Wishing our firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and their families a happy and healthy International Firefighters’ Day," said COVID-19 Public-Private Partnership Czar Peter Hatch. "Today's delivery is an excellent example of how the administration is thinking outside the box to bring much-needed resources to frontline workers and get City's restaurants cooking again. Thanks to Frontline Foods and the 9/11 Day for making today possible."

“On behalf of the members of the Department, I want to thank Frontline Foods and 9/11 Day for their generous support of the FDNY during this unprecedented time,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro. “Their outstanding efforts are not only making an impact in the lives of our EMTs, Paramedics, and Firefighters who are bravely responding each day, they’re also supporting so many restaurants across the city when it is needed most.”

“Volunteer-led organizations have been vital in quickly responding to COVID-19 challenges,” said NYC Chief Service Officer Anusha Venkataraman. “It is also through partnerships that we are able to unite across sectors and support as many New Yorkers as we can, from long-time partners to the City such as 9/11 Day or newer partners like Frontline Foods. Working together, we can strengthen our city against this crisis and future challenges.”