The free smoke alarms were enabled thanks to the #GetAlarmedNYC initiative by the NYC Council announced by Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Councilman Chaim Deutsch, after the terrible tragedy that took lives of the Sasoon family almost a year ago in Flatbush, jointly with Mayor de Blasio, the FDNY Foundation and the Red Cross of NY. Assemblyman Lentol was present at the kickoff of the drive, Sunday morning, expressing his strong support for the life-saving effort.
At a meeting arranged by Senator Daniel Squadron about two years ago, the UJO of Williamsbnurg formed a strong partnership with the Red Cross of NY, together with the Williamsburg Hatzolah and Shomrim, under which the volunteers are training with the Red Cross and are joining the Red Cross Volunteer network to respond to disasters. This partnership let to this very successful fire alarm drive, to make Williamsburg homes safer.
"I'm thankful to the Red Cross for undertaking this drive, working closely with us to protect hundreds of families. A special thanks for the devoted volunteers, and the volunteers of Shomrim headed by Coordinator Yanki Itzkowitz, for devoting so much time and efforts for this drive; and for the Hatzolah headed by Coordinator Yom Tov Malik, for opening their garage for the drive," said Rabbi Niederman, UJO President.
"A special thanks to Captain Garfield Richards of the Red Cross and Kelly McKinney, Red Cross Emergency Manager, for leading the drive, and all their co-volunteers," Rabbi Niederman added.
"I also want to thank Senator Squadron for forming the close collaboration of the UJO with the Red Cross, together with Hatzolah and Shomrim. It was very helpful during fires and it led to this successful drive. I also want to thank Assembklyman Lentol for participating at the event to give his support for it."
"I thank Speaker Viverito, Councilman Chaim Deutsch and the entire City Council for passing the initiative to provide free fire alarms to save lives, and Mayor de Balsio and the Fire Department for joining this initiative," Rabbi Niederman concluded.
Due to the demand of hundreds of families who pre-registered, a number of additional drives are planned to install alarms in those apartments who pre-registered but the teams didn't get to them yet.
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