STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A new GoFundMe campaign is aiming to give one of Staten Island’s most familiar faces — Andy, the roadside vendor known for his unwavering work ethic despite living with cerebral palsy — the rare gift of rest.
“Every day, Andy is out there working with resilience and a positive attitude,” wrote Jen Remauro, who organized the fundraiser titled Paying It Forward: A Holiday Fund for Andy. “We want to raise money so Andy can take a well-deserved few days off this holiday season. Perhaps plan a small vacation, like a cruise, with his own hardworking parents. Or simply buy himself something nice to enjoy this winter.”
For Remauro, the effort carries deep personal meaning. Her late brother, Robert Remauro, also had cerebral palsy. “Robert also worked tirelessly despite his cerebral palsy and always faced the world with a bright smile, just like Andy,” she said.
Seeing Andy pushing his candy cart up the Hylan Boulevard expressway ramp “brought back deep memories” of her brother’s determination.
Remauro hopes Staten Islanders will join her in helping Andy take a break from the long days and harsh weather he endures year-round. “Your contribution is more than just money,” Remauro wrote. “It’s a message of respect and appreciation that he will be able to read and cherish.”
Remauro has pledged to print every donation and message and hand-deliver them to Andy before Christmas.
Familiar figure at a busy intersection
Andy’s stand on Narrows Road South near the Hylan Boulevard overpass has become a landmark of persistence. For more than two decades, he has sold snacks and drinks to passing motorists — six days a week, in all weather.
“There are panhandlers across Staten Island,” once wrote Tom Checchi, former manager at the Staten Island Advance. “Tapping on car windows at intersections. Staking out locations at strip malls. Wandering around and in the ferry terminal. And then there is Andy.
“He’s not a panhandler. He’s the epitome of a self-made and extremely motivated businessman.”
Checchi continued that Andy, wearing a yellow safety vest in summer, stocks his cart with chips, cookies, pumpkin seeds, and cold beverages — all sold at fair prices.
“I don’t want the government help,” Andy told Checchi one sunny afternoon. “No Social Security, no help.”
Checchi described the countless drivers who honk, wave, or stop for a brief purchase — small gestures that have built a quiet community around Andy’s corner.
“Simply put, Andy is an inspiration,” Checchi wrote.
Work, weather, unfailing determination
Andy’s days begin before sunrise. He loads his cart at 5:30 a.m. and works until evening. Over the years he has faced robbery, the loss of regular customers during the pandemic, and countless weather extremes.
Yet, as Remauro’s fundraiser points out, “Andy sells candy, but what he’s truly offering commuters is a daily, profound lesson in unbreakable determination.”
Despite the challenges of cerebral palsy — a condition that affects his motor coordination and speech — Andy insists on earning his living through honest work.
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Remauro hopes the community that has cheered Andy from car windows will now come together to return the favor. “Let’s find it in our hearts to help Andy relax and recharge this Christmas season,” she wrote.
And perhaps, after nearly three decades braving Staten Island’s rain, snow, and summer heat, Andy might finally enjoy a few days of well-earned respite.
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