MANHATTAN — Action star and West Village native Vin Diesel is helping the Westbeth artists' residences get "Fast & Furious" help for needy tenants.
Diesel, 45, who grew up in the Westbeth Artists' Housing complex on Bethune Street before going on to star in box-office hits like "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Chronicles of Riddick," donated funds for two weeks worth of hot lunches for homebound residents dealing with the effects of Hurricane Sandy, Westbeth Artists Residents Council president George Cominskie said.
The parent-teacher association at P.S. 3, which held a bake sale to raise funds for Westbeth, is providing dinners for the same group of about 25 elderly or disabled residents, P.S. 3 parent Sandra Schwartz said.
Many of these residents have not been able to leave home since the storm hit Oct. 29 because elevator service is still being restored. Only one elevator in the 383-unit complex was operating as of Tuesday afternoon.
Homebound Westbeth residents have been thrilled to find volunteers delivering meals from Bus Stop Cafe and Tea & Sympathy to their doors.
"They've been delighted from the food point of view and also from the socialization point of view, because they were becoming very isolated," Cominskie said.
Diesel's publicist did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the donation.
