Politics & Government

SEE: Brooklyn Honors 80 'COVID Heroes' With Borough Hall Ceremony

A "Hamilton" star who mobilized out-of-work Broadway staff and a 12-year-old packing lunch for healthcare workers were among the honorees.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams honored more than 80 "COVID heroes" with a ceremony Tuesday.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams honored more than 80 "COVID heroes" with a ceremony Tuesday. (Anna Quinn/Patch.)

BROOKLYN, NY — A 12-year-old who used her allowance and birthday money to buy lunches for healthcare workers.

A "Hamilton" star who mobilized out-of-work Broadway designers to make personal protective equipment.

A man working as a clown in his free time to put smiles on the faces of children in group homes.

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These were just a few of the more than 80 Brooklynites who were honored Tuesday for helping the borough through the roughest moments of the coronavirus pandemic.

(Anna Quinn/Patch).

The ceremony, put on by Borough President Eric Adams, gave certificates to 81 "COVID Heroes" at Brooklyn Borough Hall. It was an especially-large edition of the borough president's "Heroes of the Month" series, which recognizes every day Brooklynites for acts of good service.

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The heroes, Adams said, reflect the diversity of the borough, where 47 percent of residents speak a language other than English at home.

"I am proud to recognize the contributions of these heroes, whose generous efforts directly contributed to the safety and well-being of Brooklyn’s residents and institutions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic," Adams said. "At a time when so many are intent on dividing us, these people show us the power of unity, especially when navigating periods of crisis."

Here's a look at just some of those who were honored Tuesday:

  • Association of Nigerian Physicians: Helped with pre-government testing with patients mostly new to the United States.
  • Javier Muñoz: A Broadway star from "Hamilton" and Brooklyn native who started an initiative called Broadway Relief Project, which gathered out-of-work costume and set designers to manufacture personal protective equipment.
  • Randy Peers: The president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, who launched the Brooklyn Recovery Fund.
  • Chilis On Wheels: Delivers healthy plant based groceries to those in need.
  • Federation of Indian Associations: Distributed more than 3,000 meals to first responders and 1,000 face shields made by children.
  • Flatbush Food Coop: Provided healthy food and safety needs.
  • IQRA Mosque: Did more than 150 burials in a five-week period, including retrieving bodies from homes and hospitals and reciting prayers.
  • Just A Kid With A Dream Foundation: Held online women’s empowerment events providing diapers, baby supplies wipes and books to those in need.
  • Winnie Greco: Helped gather more than 176,000 masks, 24,000 gloves, 943 sets of protective clothing and more for Brooklyn.
  • Muslims Giving Back: Provided free halal food to insecure and homeless members of the community.
  • Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District: Provided food and essentials to NYCHA residents.
  • Prospect Cleaning Services: Hired more than 50 people who were recently laid off to help with cleaning for the MTA.
  • Foodtown: One of the first to offer express lanes for first responders.
  • Yemeni Women’s Association: All-volunteer effort to help translate pertinent information from English to Arabic.
  • Leah Pavlov: A 12-year-old girl who used her own money to pack lunches for health care workers.
(Anna Quinn/Patch).

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