PHOENIX — A Chandler business owner is sending the love, by donating hand sanitizer to the Phoenix Fire Department's Crisis Response Team. It's the same team that helped his family on the day a fire destroyed his childhood home last year.
"I was a patient family advocate at John C. Lincoln for a while,” said Vince Mosca.
Fast forward about 10 years and Vince got a call he never imagined.
"My childhood home is on fire,” he said. “There are fire trucks everywhere, there are ambulances everywhere and I'm trying to find my parents and they were sitting in the back of one of the big rig engines with two really nice ladies."
Jennifer Stults and Cortney Gallanda were part of the Crisis Response Team on the scene.
"We were providing them with water, emotional support,” said Stults.
It was a devastating time of loss.
"Those situations are very difficult,” said Gallanda. “Because it's a fire and you lose your memories… So we were just there for that emotional support to help them through it."
At the same time, Vince had a feeling of relief knowing his parents were okay and first responders were on the scene bringing comfort.
“They were there for me when I really needed it and when my family really needed it," he said.
So now Vince is giving back, by donating hand sanitizer through a company he created called Hand and Soap.
"We've got a bunch of sanitizers that we're going to donate to the crisis response unit," said Mosca.
The donation, a way to say thank you for the way they helped his family and how they're continuing to help the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I'm just blown away with the amount of heart that they can bring to each situation," he said.
Phoenix Fire Department's crisis response team is thankful for the recognition and the generous donation.
"Very honorable of them to give this to us in such a time of need,” said Gallanda. “We were just doing our job and doing something that we love, helping people out in the community.”
"We helped them on a difficult day and now they're helping us through a difficult time and we're really grateful, very appreciative," said Stults.
“They were there for the Moscas that day and I'll never forget it," said Mosca.
