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Mostly Cloudy Hewlett-Woodmere rallies for injured boy
Mollo family helped by community
Gift cards for restaurants, gasoline and other donations have been made to Joseph Mollo and his family after the 10-year-old was severely hurt when a car hit him as he crossed West Broadway at Franklin Avenue in Woodmere on Oct. 5.
He suffered multiple trauma injuries and was initially listed in serious condition, police said. A family member who declined to be identified said that Joseph’s recovery would be “extensive.”
The gift collection was spearheaded by the Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association. “I know that everybody really is praying for him to have a complete recovery,” said the organization’s president, David Friedman.
Since the accident, family members have visited Joseph at the hospital in shifts. Friedman said he had been picking up gift cards from local businesses and people to deliver to the Mollo family. Scott Buda of Red Mango in Hewlett, donated a chocolate chip cookie cake.
Business owner in the community and a friend of the Mollos, Jaime Azcona, said that people approached her after the accident, asking, “What can we do?” and “What can we give?” to support Joseph and his family. Among the items that have been collected are food gift cards, toys, sports memorabilia and Yankee game tickets. “They don’t expect anybody to be donating,” Azcona said, “but they’re very overwhelmed with the response from the community.”
Children who attend schools in the Hewlett-Woodmere district were making get-well cards for Joseph, Friedman said. A Facebook page that provided updates on the boy’s recovery contained a posting about how he appreciated the students’ cards. The page has since been taken down.
Maryann Ferro and her husband have lived in the community since childhood and are now raising their children there. Ferro said her son is in class with Joseph and that she grew up in the same grade as a Mollo family member.
“I wish it were under different circumstances, but it was heartwarming to see how the community banded together to support another in times of crisis,” Ferro said, adding that people are messaging her on Facebook for her address so they can drop off donations for Joseph and his family.
The donors, as of press time, according to Friedman, included the HWBA; Woodro Kosher Deli; The Pizza Place; Ay! Caramba; Red Mango; Azcona, owner of Dance Express and the families of her students; Friendlier Pizza Restaurant; Christie and Brian Goldstein; Sandra Rocha of SAS Security; Dr. Steve Agin, owner of Eyes on Broadway; Milan’s Brick Oven Pizza; Jeff Goldstein of JAG Tax Advisors; Chavi Deena Bachman, who volunteered to cook for the Hewlett Fire Department and Chevra Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps Inc.; Laura Player; and Maryann Ferro.
Nassau County Police Detective Gary Ferrucci said that Woodmere resident Mark A. Beer was driving west on West Broadway at the speed limit, 30 mph, when he struck Joseph. James Melis, of Astoria, was traveling east on West Broadway in a car service vehicle when he stopped at the sound of a bang and saw Joseph airborne in front of his car. Ferrucci said that the boy saw his friends standing at the corner and ran south across West Broadway where he was hit.
“Within moments” of the accident, Ferrucci said, Mollo was taken to Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park. Police deemed it a “non-criminal accident,” and the investigation was continuing as of press time. Ferrucci said that routine evaluations were conducted, including brake tests of both vehicles. “We’re happy that the child survived,” he said.
Ferrucci is asking anyone who has information about the incident to call him at (516) 573-7793.
