Coronavirus: $6K Raised In 24 Hours For Bay Shore Hospital Staff

BAY SHORE, NY— As Long Island grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, pleas for supplies and food for hospital workers on the front lines have ricocheted across social media. Some communities have created focused groups to funnel donations to local restaurants, helping them stay afloat during the COVID-19 shutdown while also feeding the doctors, nurses and hospital staff working during the health crisis.

Patricia Blair of East Islip heard about Theresa Sullivan's efforts to feed the health care workers at Huntington Hospital and quickly organized a similar effort for Bay Shore's Southside Hospital on Tuesday. The attorney said it was relatively simple to get started — she took a couple hours off from work to reach out to the head of giving at the hospital and set up a Venmo account and Facebook group called The Islips Feed the Southside Hospital Employees.

Blair says she's now raised almost $7,000, all from word of mouth, from 1 p.m Tuesday to Wednesday morning. The money raised will all go toward feeding Southside employees. Already, several restaurants are planning to begin the twice-per-day deliveries starting Saturday. The deliveries will consist of 50 meals each, at noon and 8 p.m.

Blair told Patch she's already received messages from emergency room employees telling her "we are so eternally grateful."

"It shows them that we care," she added.

Blair, who's also president of East Islip's For the Kids (FTK) foundation nonprofit, says a group of volunteers has rallied around the effort, and restaurants are continuing to contact her to get involved. She hopes to see more people spread the word.

SoBol Islip, Vinnie’s Mulberry Street, AJ’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese, The Irish Coffee Pub, Pizza Parm and Riley Fibbers have so far joined the campaign.

Blair asked her hospital contacts if they wanted more meals per day, but the hospital employees urged her to think long-term, knowing the need will go on for some time.

"I think we all feel helpless, and this is something we can do while social distancing."