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HERALD Chief Becker is sworn in
EMFD responds to bus crash
Artists featured at Heckscher
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Vol. 26 No. 16
APRIl 16 - 22, 2026
$1.00
Running the paths for heroes Building Homes for Heroes’ 5K returns to Eisenhower Park By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
Michael Rechter/Herald
Runners hit the trails at Eisenhower Park on April 4 for the Building Homes for Heroes for Heroes ’ 5K walks/Run.
Building Homes for Heroes’ 5K Walk/Run returned to Eisenhower Park on April 4, drawing runners, families and community members together in support of injured veterans and first responders. The event combined fundraising with outreach, as organizers aimed to expand awareness of the nonprofit’s mission while building on momentum from last year’s race. Building Homes for Heroes, based in Island Park, Building Homes for Heroes was formed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, when founder Andy Pujol volunteered in search and rescue efforts at Ground Zero. What began as an effort to gift a single home to a returning veteran has since grown into a national organization that has provided hundreds of mortgage-free homes. The nonprofit is now on track to complete its 500th home by the end of 2026. ContinuEd on PAgE 10
Donate yarn and blankets to children in hospitals By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
Community members across the 5th State Senate District have an opportunity to give back by donating yar n and handmade blankets in a drive to support children undergoing chemotherapy. State Sen. Steve Rhoads, whose district includes Bellmore, Merrick, East Meadow, Seaford, Wantagh and Levittown, is spearheading the worthy campaign in partnership with the nonprofit We Care Blankets. The nonprofit organization was founded on Long Island in
1999, when a small group of volunteers recognized a common but often overlooked side effect of cancer treatment in children: persistent chills. Initially funded by a physician, the organization set out to provide something simple but meaningful — handmade, colorful blankets that could offer warmth and reassurance during a difficult time. Over the years, the effort has grown into a community-driven network of volunteers who knit, crochet and donate blankets that are distributed to hospitals serving pediatric cancer p at i e n t s. E a ch bl a n ke t i s designed not only to keep chil-
dren warm, but to provide a sense of care and connection, organizers said. The monthlong yar n and blanket drive, which will run through May, builds on a previous effort that collected more than 400,000 yards of yarn and over 200 handmade blankets. Donations of acrylic yar n allow volunteers to continue crafting blankets, while completed blankets can be given directly to the organization for distribution. “It is a heartbreaking reality that far too many children battle cancer at such a young age,” Rhoads said in a release shared ahead of this year’s drive.
“While medical care is essential in their fight, it is equally important that they are surrounded by comfort, compassion, and a sense of warmth during such a difficult and painful time.” Community members can support the initiative in two ways: by donating yarn at the designated collection sites or
by creating blankets themselves. All materials must be acrylic, washable and hospitalsafe to ensure they can be easily cleaned and safely used in medical settings. Organizers also encourage bright colors and patterns, which can help bring a sense of joy to children during treatment. ContinuEd on PAgE 7