Crime & Safety

Fort Lee PBA President Grateful For Support For Jersey Shore Drive

The local PBA-sponsored "Drive for the Jersey Shore" took place in November and garnered donations from as far away as Wales.

The Fort Lee Policemen’s Benevolent Association held a “Drive for the Jersey Shore” to benefit some of the hardest hit victims of Hurricane Sandy in November, accepting donations of much needed items like non-perishable foods, water, sports drinks, baby formula, baby food and diapers.

In addition, the PBA also collected toiletries, cleaning supplies, heavy-duty garbage bags, paper towels, bleach, flashlights, batteries and work gloves but also accepted any type of donation people wanted to make.

On Tuesday, Fort Lee PBA Local #245 president Kevin Kosuda wrote a letter thanking all those who donated, which he said included not only people from Fort Lee, but also some from out of state and as far away as Wales.

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When the PBA took the donations down the Shore, members witnessed firsthand the devastation the storm left in its wake, which Kosuda said couldn’t be described in words or pictures.

“Hurricane Sandy is one of the most tragic events to hit the State of New Jersey in our lifetimes,” Kosuda wrote in the letter. “We would not have been able to help those in need without the assistance from the Fort Lee Community, our friends and families.”

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The letter, dated Jan. 15, 2013, appears in its entirety below and is attached to this article as a PDF:

Hurricane Sandy is one of the most tragic events to hit the State of New Jersey in our lifetimes. The Fort Lee PBA launched an effort to help those communities in need along the Jersey Shore. The Fort Lee PBA collected donations of clothing, cleaning supplies, food and toys for victims of Hurricane Sandy. We would not have been able to help those in need without the assistance from the Fort Lee Community, our friends and families. We even received donations from residents located in Wales, Massachusetts. Police Officers JP Charette and Lee Collins transported items that had been collected from their residents and delivered them to the Fort Lee Police Department. The Fort Lee PBA then transported these much needed supplies as well as all of the items donated by our community directly to those communities that had been destroyed. We were also able to see firsthand the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. Words and pictures cannot even begin to describe the devastation. I wish to thank everyone for the assistance during operation Drive for the Jersey Shore. The residents from the Jersey shore I spoke to wanted to say Thank You to all of those who donated during their time of need. Please visit www.fortleepba.com if you would like to see photos taken during the two trips made to the Jersey Shore.  

Thank You

  • Kevin Kosuda
  • President
  • Fort Lee PBA Local #245


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