Mercer County Conference
shows heart for Houston
Food, water, clothes, diapers, shelter: the needs of Houston
following category four Hurricane Harvey are vast, as families
have been left homeless and with few resources to fulfill basic
needs. As New Jersey State PBA Locals across the state do their
part to provide relief to the victims of Harvey, the Mercer Coun-
ty Conference joined with the Red Cross to host a blood drive to
provide vital donations that can save lives in a place struck by
natural disaster.
“There’s a shortage of blood, and what we contribute will save
somebody’s life,” stated Mercer County Conference Chairman
and NJ State PBA Third Vice President Mike Pellegrino. “When
we looked at it from that perspective, we saved a lot of people’s
lives that day and that’s the key.”
Pellegrino organized the effort that took place on Sept. 7 in
Hamilton. His partner at Mercer County Sheriffs Local 187,
Matt Przemieniecki, and Matt’s wife Missy suggested the blood
drive to Pellegrino, who had to take quick action. Members of
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■ SEPTEMBER 2017
the Mercer County Conference were given short notice over
Labor Day weekend to participate. But when the day of the
blood drive came, the number of donors nearly doubled what
Pellegrino had expected, with a total of 98 donors and a line of
additional volunteers that they were forced to decline due to a
lack of resources to handle the overflow.
“It was a busy day, but everybody stepped up and did their
part.” Pellegrino confirmed.
In addition to the collection of blood donations, the Mercer
County Conference created T-shirts to further support Texas.
On the front, it reads “heart for Houston,” with the signifier of
support from the NJ State PBA inscribed on the back. Proceeds
from the T-shirt sales will be donated to the JJ Watt Foundation
Houston Relief Fund, furthering the support that the Mercer
County Conference and NJ law enforcement as a whole have
given to Houston in the wake of this tragic event. d