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March 20-26, 2020
LIC Partnership calls for increased support
for small business during coronavirus crisis
BY BILL PARRY
When Mayor Bill de Blasio
signed an executive order that
will limit restaurants, bars
and cafes to food take-out and
delivery, the Long Island City
Partnership swung into action
updating and simplifying its
promotion to encourage people
to patronize local businesses
during the coronavirus emergency.
“As New Yorkers heed
safety guidance and new mandates,
we are urging residents
and essential workers in Long
Island City to support their
local businesses by ordering
takeout and delivery from their
favorite nearby cafes and restaurants,
caterers, shops and
wine stores,” LIC Partnership
President Elizabeth Lusskin
said. “Shopping local has never
been more important and we
hope our neighbors will join us
in supporting the businesses
that are the heart of our community.”
The LIC Partnership’s
“Shop, Eat, Drink Campaign”
encourages people to buy a gift
card to local restaurants, hotels
and stores. For a list of businesses,
you can help support,
visit the Partnership’s website
at longislandcityqueens.com.
Meanwhile, the Long Island
City community is coming together
to help those who are
less fortunate during the coronavirus
outbreak. Local civic,
religious and business organizations
“to alleviate specific
needs in our neighborhood and
surrounding areas” in western
Queens.
Starting Monday, March 23,
the LIC Community COVID-19
Relief Group will begin to distribute
meals for students and
families impacted by the ongoing
school closure. Meals will
The Long Island City community is mobilizing to help families and small business that are hurting during the coronavirus emergency.
be in a “grab-and-go” format
with no seating available.
“We are working on finalizing
different locations in Hunters
Point and Court Square
but nothing has been finalized
yet,” Hunters Point Parks Conservancy
President Rob Basch
said. “Everyone is welcome to
join our work in progress as we
try to keep people fed through
this crisis and also help our local
restaurants stay open.”
The coalition of organizations
is currently collecting
dry goods for distribution. Any
products received will be disbursed
to local food pantries
with the highest needs.
Donations can be made at
the New City Church office at
10-54 47th Ave.,the LIC Jewish
Community Center at 10-29
48th Ave.
Kelly Craig, the co-vicepresident
of the P.S./I.S. 78Q
PTA, got the effort started over
the weekend.
“I was speaking to Patrick
Thompson from New City
Church NYC and we discussed
how diverse Long Island City
is and the economic disparity
that you see when you get away
from the luxury high-rises
along the waterfront,” Craig
Courtesy Hunters Point Parks Conservancy
said. “There are 780 children
at my school and many of them
do not get meals at home. I feel
responsible for these kids, so I
told Patrick, ‘We have to start
getting in front of this. We’re
asking for food donations as
well as monetary donations
that will all go to people that
need help right now.”
She is enlisting the help of
restaurants like Little Chef
Little Cafe to prepare the “graband
go” meals.
“We have the boots on the
ground but we desperately need
funding to help as many people
as we can,” Craig said. “The
needs here will only intensify
in the coming weeks.”
To volunteer, email Casey
Chamberlain at casey@hunterspointpark.
org and to donate,
visit newcitychurch.churchcenter.
com. Donations are
processed through New City
Church LIC, but separately accounted
for.
For more information about
financial donations email Kelly
Craig at kelly@psis78pta.org.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
Vol. 8, No. 12 44 total pages
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