A Middle Village deli led a community initiative to help support the family of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, who tragically died in the line of duty in March. Through the sale of its specialty sandwich, the deli successfully raised and donated over $15,000.
Mario’s Meat Market and Gourmet Deli, located at 75-55 Metropolitan Ave., started selling “The NYPD” sandwich last month, where more than half the price of the $16 sandwich was donated to the GoFundMe page for Diller’s family.
Joe DiGangi, the deli’s owner, first told QNS he wanted to use the business’s online audience and reputation in the community to help Diller’s family. Over a month later, there is still a sense of disbelief in the abundance of money the business allocated to the GoFundMe effort.
“We have been truly overwhelmed by the generosity of our local community and by the generosity of people all across the country,” the business owner said in a statement on Instagram.
The deli sold approximately 2,217 of the NYPD hero sandwiches, which amounted to $11,085, the businesses shared. An additional $4,100 in other donations came in, putting the donation grand total to $15,185.
The NYPD sandwich consisted of several classic Italian ingredients, including arugula, chicken cutlet, mozzarella, prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes and a balsamic glaze drizzled on top.
Council Member Robert Holden, who represents Middle Village as part of his district, visited the neighborhood deli when it first unveiled its donation effort and praised DiGangi for his initiative.
Holden took to social media to share the deli’s donation triumph.
“I’m proud to represent a community that supports our law enforcement and can come together to help the Diller family in these difficult times,” Holden wrote in a post online. “Mario’s Meats and my neighbors consistently step up when it counts.”
I'm proud to represent a community that supports our law enforcement and can come together to help the Diller family in these difficult times.
Mario's Meats and my neighbors consistently step up when it counts. https://t.co/eJE4LxkZxT
— Robert Holden (@BobHoldenNYC) May 5, 2024
Jonathan Diller, 31, was shot and killed during a car stop in Far Rockaway as he and his partner were investigating an illegally parked SUV, police said.
Since its launch in March, the GoFundMe page for the Diller family has received over $1 million in donations.
