Coronavirus: Motorcades Held To Support Huntington Front-Liners

HUNTINGTON, NY — The Long Island Centre of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care USA, a global non-profit organization, has been organizing motorcades to show appreciation for the Huntington area's front-line workers at hospitals, nursing homes, and local police and fire departments for their constant work during the coronavirus outbreak, the organization announced in a news release.

The most recent motorcade was held Saturday. Greenlawn fire fighters and the staff of Carillon Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a nursing home in Huntington, were celebrated. Andrew Raia, Huntington town clerk, and Councilman Mark Cuthbertson of the Huntington Town Board, joined the motorcade.

"We recognize the sacrifices being made by the front-line workers and working with
organizations like this, we are proud to show our support of these extraordinary efforts," Cuthbertson stated via the release.

The Long Island Chapter of SRLC also distributed meals and snacks to front-line responders in addition to the donation of over 2,000 KN95 and N95 masks to those in need. The masks are sourced by the organization, Mitesh P. Lakhani, SRLC trustee, said.

"Each time we visit them, the medical staff, officers, they reciprocate their feelings with wide smiles, tears of appreciation, chants of 'thank you' and laughter," Lakhani said. "We are so glad to get an opportunity to extend our gratitude, and we realize that despite social distancing, the hearts of the heroic health care workers and SRLC volunteers were fully connected."

Additionally, due to the shortage of food in the local shelters, SRLC donated 53,000 pounds of food to those who need it.

The first motorcade was held May 3 when the organization honored the Huntington Fire Department. Then, with a full police car escort, the motorcade visited the healthcare workers at Huntington Hospital.

To the dozens of hospital staff that had come out to witness the motorcade, SRLC volunteers expressed their gratitude in a multitude of ways, the organization said. A vibrant atmosphere was created by the distribution of 'thank you' cards made by children. Food was donated, and the sounds of music and cheers rung out.

For more information on Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care USA, check out its website.