Coronavirus: Huntington Deli Delivers Food To Front-Line Workers

HUNTINGTON, NY — Blue Line Deli in Huntington is helping feed those on the front lines of the new coronavirus pandemic. In an ongoing effort that began early April, free food has been sent to hospitals, first aid squads, fire houses, police stations and others who need it.

Donald Rosner, owner of the deli, has overseen the delivery of hot egg sandwiches and other grub to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola and/or Huntington Hospital on a regular basis. Around 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, roughly 200 individually-sealed meals are brought to health care workers following coordination with the hospital.

"We’re trying to keep it as clean as possible, as safe as possible and try to help as much as possible," Rosner, 38, told Patch.

The NHL-themed deli, which opened at 719 W. Jericho Turnpike in mid-March, has been making the deliveries free of charge, Rosner said. He intends to keep the process going as long as finances allow.

"There is a global catastrophe happening, and I’m not doing it for money. I’m doing it to help people."

The deli hasn't been without receiving aid of its own, though. Devin Robinson of YesMenOutfitters, an independent lifestyle brand focusing on New York Islanders hockey-themed merchandise, sold over 1,000 hand towels with text jibing at the Islanders crosstown-rival New York Rangers. In a partnership with Blue Line Deli, each towel sold ensured breakfast for a health care worker. Towels went back in stock Friday after the first batch rapidly sold out.

Rosner expressed his gratitude to nurses and doctors, who he said are working around-the-clock, non-stop.

"It means a lot to me to be able to do something for somebody," he said. "If one person eats a sandwich and feels better about their day, it’s worth it. It has nothing to do with me; I’m not doing anything, really. It’s not a big deal. What doctors are doing, that’s a big deal."

Rosner urged everyone to stay home whenever possible as a way to keep confirmed COVID-19 cases down.

"People should not be going out unless they absolutely have to," he said. "There’s a lot of restaurants besides me that are doing curbside or deliveries. Let the people who are out there be out there and come to you. There’s no reason for any of us to go out unless you absolutely have to. People are dying left and right. It’s sad, and it’s not worth the risk."

It wasn't long after Blue Line Deli opened that the coronavirus began ramping up. As a means to help those short on supplies, the deli is selling toilet paper, bottled water and paper towels at cost price.

The Blue Line Deli & Bagels website recently went live. Online orders can be made through DoorDash. The menu includes egg sandwiches, Bagel Boss bagels, omelettes, lettuce wraps, quesadillas, salads, and a load of sandwiches that can be customized. Bonus: All sandwiches' names are hockey-inspired. The deli can be reached at 631-944-3222.

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