Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce donates to benefit injured heroes

The Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce gave a $1500 donation to the Nassau County Firefighters-Operation Wounded Warrior at a village board meeting on Oct. 3. Pictured are Front row, left: Ex-Captain Steve Grogan, Second Deputy Chief Edward Hynes, Chief Michael Hynes, Ex-Chief Kevin Bien, Bill Gaylor, president Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce, Third Deputy Chief Michael Anderson, and Firefighter Chris Hynes. Back row, left to right: Trustee Alan Beach, Mayor William Hendrick, and trustees Thomas Atkinson and Michael Hawxhurst.

Courtesy Village of Lynbrook

The Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce made a $1,500 donation to the Nassau County Firefighters-Operation Wounded Warrior at a village board meeting on Oct. 3.

“Doing something like this is extraordinary,” said Bill Gaylor, chamber president and proprietor of Lyn Gift Shop. “… It’s very meaningful stuff that the Chamber of Commerce is all about.”

The chamber held a car show benefit on Sept. 1, raising funds for the Nassau County Firefighters-Operation Wounded Warrior. The NCFF-OWW is a local organization made up of firefighters from Nassau County fire departments, not apart of the Wounded Warrior Project, a nationwide organization. Started in Stewart Manor more than seven years ago, the Lynbrook Fire Department has been involved for four years. The organization’s mission is to make sure soldiers that are hurt in action are never forgotten, said Lynbrook Fire Department Ex-Chief Kevin Bien. “It is a way to show our appreciation to men and women,” he said.

The chamber was looking to get involved with another good cause, coming on board to help the village’s Fire Department, who also held an a block party and salute to our heroes event on Sept. 10, Bien said.

The donation will help the NCFF-OWW to buy Christmas gifts, including MP3 players and portable DVD players, for wounded warriors being treated at different camps and hospitals like the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. During the holidays, the firefighters will be collecting t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other toiletries. They will also bring up a group of six wounded warriors for a New York Islanders game and other activities this month, Bien added.

“We try to get the message out to regular civilians, as many don’t realize young men and women get hurt over there,” Bien said, “and they have a long recovery … thank you to the Chamber of Commerce, and all the merchants who gave gift certificates for the fundraisers, and residents who came out to support it.”