Assemblyman Edward C. Braunstein is pictured with veterans at the St. Albans Community Living Center, along with his staff and Benjamin N. Cardozo High School students and faculty.
Assemblyman Edward C. Braunstein is pictured at the St. Albans Community Living Center with donations from the 20th Annual Valentines for Vets gift drive, along with his staff, Benjamin N. Cardozo High School students and faculty, and St. Albans VA staff.
Assemblyman Edward C. Braunstein (D-Bayside) and the Law Offices of Ann-Margaret Carrozza, along with co-sponsors Community Board 11 and the Whitestone Volunteer Ambulance Service, organized our community’s 20th Annual Valentines for Vets gift drive to honor hospitalized veterans for the sacrifices they have made to defend our nation.
Thousands of donations of handwritten cards, candy, new clothing items, playing cards, puzzles and toiletries were received from 27 schools, as well as civic organizations, Girl Scout troops, and local residents. The gifts were delivered on Friday, February 12th by Assemblyman Braunstein, his staff, and students from Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, to the hospitalized men and women at the St. Albans VA Community Living Center and the New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone, especially our local public and private schools, for once again overwhelmingly supporting our Valentines for Vets gift drive. These donations helped to brighten the day of hundreds of veterans by showing them that we care about them and appreciate their sacrifices,” said Assemblyman Braunstein.
“For the 20th year, we asked the residents of Northeast Queens to consider making a hospitalized veteran their Valentine, and they answered that appeal by generously donating thousands of items for our hospitalized heroes,” said Ann-Margaret Carrozza.
“Additionally, I want to thank our friends at Community Board 11 and the Whitestone Volunteer Ambulance Service for their participation in the gift drive,” said Braunstein.
Among the schools and community organizations that contributed to this drive were:
Bayside Kiwanis, Bayside Library, Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Benjamin N. Cardozo High School Key Club, Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy of Bayside, Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy of Douglaston, Girl Scout Troops 4016, 4018, 4019, 4024, 4562, & 4772, Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Civic Association, Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Community Center, Holy Cross High School, Holy Trinity School, Jefferson Democratic Club, Lutheran School of Flushing & Bayside, MS 67, MS 158, New York Mets, Our Lady of the Snows School, Palantir Gotham, PS 32, PS 79, PS 98, PS 115, PS 159, PS 169, PS 184, PS 193, PS 209, PS 221, PS 811, Queensboro Hill Community Church, Sacred Heart Daisy Troop 4145, St. Andrew Avellino School, St. Kevin Catholic Academy, St. Luke School, St. Mel’s School, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Golden Years Seniors, St. Robert Bellarmine Girl Scout Troop 4279, The Lowell School, Townsend Harris High School, and the William Spyropoulos Greek-American Day School.
Assemblyman Edward C. Braunstein is pictured with veterans at the St. Albans Community Living Center, along with his staff and Benjamin N. Cardozo High School students and faculty.