Family of officer killed in crash expresses gratitude for ‘overwhelming’ show of ‘Pizza Strong’ support
Pizza restaurants are donating $5 from each pie sold to the family of the Nassau officer who was killed on her way to work.
Pizzerias across Long Island are joining together with one goal - to raise money for the family of Officer Patricia Espinosa.
Espinosa, who was killed by an alleged drunken driver last month, leaves behind a daughter and a husband, who is also a Nassau police officer.
Espinosa’s brother and husband spoke to News 12, expressing how touched they’ve been by all the “Long Island Pizza Strong” support.
Three hundred pizzerias across Long Island are participating in “Long Island Pizza Strong,” a Feb. 25 initiative to raise money for the family.
Espinosa’s brother, Cristian Almeida, also a police officer, said, “We can’t be more grateful than how we are right now with the amount of support…”
Five dollars from each pie sold at participating restaurants will go directly toward Espinosa’s family. King Umberto of Elmont went even further, donating 25% of all proceeds from the day.
Espinosa’s husband, Nassau Police Officer Francisco Malaga, said, “It’s just amazing the fact that, even though we lost her, we’re getting so many blessings.”
He said the support is “overwhelming, in a good way.”
