n a bright sunny, Sunday morning on October 28th, 2001, the New York Sharks headed towards downtown New York. The Sharks were volunteering to help out in some small way in the massive work being done at Ground Zero. Their destination was 431 Canal street, Nino's Restaurant.

Nino's is a restaurant that has been run by owner Antonio Nino Vendome for the past 30 years. Since September 13th, the restaurant has been open around the clock to World Trade Center rescue workers. It has served free meals and beverages to more than 100,000 people. The Sharks volunteered to help in preparing and serving meals for that Sunday morning.

Work for the Sharks started at 9am. For the most part, the breakfast rush was over but workers still were coming in. A few of the Sharks players helped to continue to serve plates of scrambled eggs, french toast, sausages, bacon, grits, and oatmeal. The rest were relegated to the kitchen to help in preparing for lunch.

Some players like Cheryl Stephney and Nikki Cerrato and Sharks staff Crystal Turpin formed meatballs, others were dicing up a boxload of chicken breasts, or making spaghetti sauce. Team owner, Andra Douglas and tight end, Dana Sparling, and Sharks staffer, Jackie Welch put on hair nets for a good cause and helped crack 1,200 eggs. Click on the image to the right to watch the video.

While the Nino's chefs cooked the food, the Sharks mingled with the policemen, state troopers, Red Cross workers, and EMT's. They talked with them and signed autographs.

By 11am, the Sharks were back in action, this time to serve lunch by players Sharon Pascale and Aurora Lighthart.. Hundreds of workers poured in over the next two hours to feast on a meal of salad, ribs, chicken parmagiana, meatballs, rice, and mixed vegetables. Dessert consisted of pecan pie, key lime pie, chocolate chips cookies, and pumpkin pie.

After serving lunch for 2 hours, at 1pm our shift was over as the next group of volunteers came in. Despite preparing more food that day than we usually do in a month, everyone left happy, knowing that they helped volunteer for a worthy cause.

The restaurant continues to serve free meals to the rescue workers. The effort continues with the help of donations of time and money by both corporate and individuals. The restaurant's owner has started the Nino Vendome Ground Zero Relief Fund 9/11, a non-profit corporation. To donate food or volunteer your services, you can call manager Nick Pasculli at 212-431-5625 or 212-966-5110 or visit their website at: www.ninos911.org.

10/28/01