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QUEENS WEEKLY, MARCH 22, 2020
LIC Partnership calls for increased support
for small business during coronavirus crisis
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The Long Island City community is mobilizing to help families and small business that are hurting during the coronavirus emergency.
PROUD MEMBER OF NEW YORK PRESS ASSOCIATION
BRIAN RICE
Publisher
ZACH GEWELB
Editor
RALPH D’ONOFRIO
V.P. of Advertising
Courtesy Hunters Point Parks Conservancy
ADVERTISING
Senior Account Executive:
Kathy Wenk
Account Executives:
David Strauss
Sherri Rossi
OFFICE MANAGER
Linda Lindenauer
CIRCULATION
Roberto Palacios
CLASSIFIED
Classified Director:
Amanda Tarley
Classified Sales
Manager:
Eugena Pechenaya
EDITORIAL STAFF
Reporters: Bill Parry,
Mark Hallum, Carlotta Mohamed,
Naeisha Rose, Jenna Bagcal,
Emily Davenport, Alejandra
O’Connell-Domenech
Photographers: Nat Valentine,
Ellis Kaplan, Robert Cole
Copy Editors: Stephen Lepore,
Katrina Medoff
Contributing Writers/Columnists:
Bob Friedrich, Bob Harris,
Ronald B. Hellman, William Lewis,
Calvin Prashad
ART & PRODUCTION
Art Director: Leah Mitch
Designer: Connie Sulsenti
Layout: Rod Ivey
Cartoonist: Tip Sempliner
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 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-vice-president 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 highrises
along the waterfront,” Craig 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
“grab-and-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.
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