New Hyde Park native Lou Bernardi has been working with other coaches since the outset of the coronavirus pandemic to collect and distribute food to hospitals, organizations and food drives.
“I’m involved in a lot of different charities and nonprofits, so obviously with the COVID situation that we’re in we all decided it would be nice to get out and give back to those who need it most and pay respects for front-line workers, people who’re putting their lives and their families lives in danger every day,” said Bernardi, a baseball coach at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and a former professional baseball player.
Together with Bernardi, Ray Negron of the New York Yankees and “The Chapters Rap” host Steve Vaccaro have been highly involved in food distribution efforts.
“Anybody we can find that we think we can help, we’re going to go out and help,” said Bernardi.
On Thursday, Bernardi and a group of coaches collected and delivered food for the NYPD Counterterrorism Unit. They have taken meals to nurses at NYU Langone Hospital as well.
On Tuesday, they will take 60 dinners to Nassau County 3rd Precinct police officers. New Hyde Park restaurant La Parma is providing the meals.
Additionally, the coaches have donated well over 1,000 boxes of cookies to food drives, Bernardi said.
“We will continue to do it as long as this virus is affecting people,” he said. “As long as the front-line workers and first responders are out going there, we’re going to show appreciation for them and help as many people as we can.”
“Anybody who reads this article should challenge themselves to help one person today,” he added. “If you can do one small thing each day, if we all do that, then we’re going to get through this.”
This has been a challenging time for the sports world, but also an opportunity, Bernardi said.
“What I’ve been saying to my athletes is you have to find the positives in everything,” he explained. “The coronavirus equals opportunities for athletes to use their platforms to help others. It’s also an opportunity for self reflection on their own careers, to realize that you really can’t take anything for granted, that you really don’t miss something until it’s taken away.”
