My name is Maria and I work as a Firefighter/Paramedic in Florida.  In the last year I have come to know a remarkable selfless human being who our department knows as Chef Rob.  Chef Rob is a former New Yorker that relocated to Boca Raton, Fl just two months prior to the attacks on 9/11.  After the attacks Chef Rob wanted to give back to his local Firefighter's.  He began with the nearby Firehouse that had recently helped him and his family after losing property from a Fire that started in an apartment next to theirs just 2 months before. 

Since then his goal has been to make a four-course meal at each Fire Station in the state of Florida and to cook for every shift, which includes A, B, and C.  Chef Rob has so far completed meals for the all stations at Lake County, Palm Beach County, Cities of Leesburg, Boca Raton, Mascotte, Mineola, Ocoee, The Keys, Reedy Creek FD, and is now making his way through Orange County Fire Rescue.

While conquering this immense task he started to assemble a cookbook with all his unbelievable recipes.  For the last 10 years he has been trying to fund the publishing for his book.  Chef’s plan is to donate the proceeds from his cookbook to aid Fire Departments in need, with the initial proceeds going to FDNY.  

Now here is why he needs your support:

Since he began this mission in 2001 Chef Rob and his family have had some road blocks to overcome.  Both Chef Rob and his extremely supportive Wife have been afflicted with Cancer.  They continue to stay strong and fight their health battles while undergoing chemotherapy.  All the while, he continues to cook these four-course meals around Florida.  He is also holding down a part-time job and taking care of his Wife and older Autistic son.  With mounting medical bills looming over them and being fatigued from illness, it is difficult to imagine how he continues to feed us Firefighters.  He starts his days by going to work early in the morning, then going straight to the next Firehouse on his list to cook for the next 3-4 hours.  He watches as the crew devours his delicious meal, while preparing their dessert.  By the time he leaves the station it’s late in to the evening, leaving him with a long tiresome drive home.  He collects nothing monetarily and the cost to travel to each station is from his own pocket.  

Chef Rob has mentioned time again how he considers the FD his Family.  Firefighters are known for their "Brotherhood" so I am reaching out to Chef Rob's extended family (The FD) in hopes that we can give back to a one of a kind humanitarian.  If you ever wanted to “Pay it Forward” this is the perfect opportunity. Chef would never in a million years ask for such support but he's more deserving than anyone I know.  Let's help Chef Rob lift the financial burden he must be facing so he can continue to focus on his health and fulfilling his mission and his dream of publishing his cookbook.  The only way this can happen is by us donating!

Please feel free to forward this to as many Firefighter’s, Friends, and Family as you may know.  Thank you in advance.