Couple Starts Fundraiser To Buy Food For Hospital Workers

BAY SHORE, NY — A Babylon couple recently decided to help local healthcare workers at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic. Sarah Reilly and her fiancé, Andrew Ryan, recently started fundraising to provide food from local restaurants to fuel the doctors, nurses and medical staff working at the hospital.

The couple really wanted to find a way to help the Bay Shore community, which is where their daughter goes to school. In addition, Reilly worked at several restaurants in the area, such as Fatfish on the Water and Coastal Kitchen while also working as a substitute teacher in the Brentwood School District to make enough to support her family. Reilly's sister also works as a nurse at the hospital, so Reilly wanted to find a good way to show her appreciation towards her sister and her coworkers. Since the couple has such a connection to the Bay Shore community, they recently found a way to help by starting the fundraising group, Fueling Our Frontline.

"[The fundraiser] is not only about paying it forward to our local heroes but also patronizing local businesses to keep the local economy some what stimulated and our much loved places to dine at 'busy,' Reilly told Patch. "Seeing the sacrifices they make, is truly inspiring and who wouldn’t want to do something to make their days just a little brighter?"

So far, the couple is still working to collect donations through the Fueling Our Frontline Facebook page and GoFundMe page. As of Tuesday, the GoFundMe has raised a total of $1,355. The first donation is set up to be delivered on Friday from Local Burger in Bay Shore to provide a total of 100 meals for the healthcare workers. They are also planning on also sending coffees from local coffee shops and the restaurant, Sealevels in Brightwaters ,has expressed that they are looking to help too.

"We want to incorporate as many restaurants as possible," Reilly said. "We have been so thankful for all the wonderful people within our community that have reached out to donate not only monetarily but also baked goods. We are hoping to send as many as we can for as long as we can. It definitely takes a village and with everything going on in the world, paying kindness forward shouldn’t just end when the pandemic has subsided it should be something we practice year round."