After leaving the wreckage where the World Trade Center once stood last week, North Hudson Firefighters Lenny Calvo and Glen Michelin and Union City Police Officer Joe Treanor wanted to do more for the families of the many victims of the attack. Together, northern Hudson County’s firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and emergency dispatchers have formed the North Hudson Emergency Services charity organization.
"I think we all got a little frustrated that we weren’t able to help on the scene more," said President of the North Hudson Firefighters Association Glen Michelin last week. "We were told that financially would be the next best way to help."
The group is comprised of firefighters, police officers, EMTs and dispatchers from Union City, Guttenberg, North Bergen, Weehawken and West New York. The North Hudson Emergency Services put together last week a nine-day "fill the boot" fundraising drive to raise money for the widows and orphans of New York City firefighters, police officers and EMTs who died trying to save the lives of the thousands involved in the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.
Michelin said that the organization is also looking to donate to the families of victims in northern Hudson County as well.
"Everyone wants to do something," said Joe Treanor, who’s also the president of the Union City Police Supervisors Association. "But they don’t know how or know where to go."
The boot drive was slated to start yesterday (Saturday, Sept. 29) with a kick-off rally at Schuetzen Park in North Bergen. Then, for nine days, off-duty firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and emergency dispatchers will man the streets, asking for donations. They will start on Bergenline Avenue.
During the week, Michelin said, volunteers will be stationed on the busier streets, mostly toward the Lincoln Tunnel, during the morning and evening rush hours; 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
According to Calvo, the organization has set a goal to raise $500,000.
"There will be a zero balance in our bank account when this is over," said Treanor. "All of the proceeds, every penny, will be donated."
Residents who do not get the chance to catch the emergency services personnel on the streets can still donate to the fund.
Residents can send a check, made out to North Hudson Emergency Services Charity Fund to P.O. Box 911, Union City, N.J., 07087-0911.