Longaro and Locals Help Businesses and Essential Workers

As of recent times, Blair Longaro has become a household name in the Hewlett-Woodmere community, and for all the right reasons. Many know her just as Blair, a friendly face that George W. Hewlett High School students would be ecstatic to see as their substitute teacher in the classroom. Some know her because her two sons go to school in the district. Some know her because she is the newly-crowned transportation coordinator for the district. And some know her simply as a friend. Now, however, Longaro is known across the community for her incredible efforts to support both local businesses and essential workers during this difficult time.

After coronavirus (COVID-19) reached the local community, and then the state-wide lockdown order was evoked, Longaro began to consider the impact that all of this could have on local businesses. Longaro said that she and her family initially ordered in a decent amount, but started to order in more often to help out local businesses; she eventually realized that her family of four could only order in so much food. Longaro started to think about ways she could help to keep local businesses afloat while supporting essential workers at the same time. And thus, the Facebook group “Feeding LOCAL heroes and friends, from LOCAL businesses” was born.

The day before her first post in the group, Longaro went to a nearby Consumer Value Store (CVS) with her husband and found a scene of despair. The manager was “absolutely deflated,” unable to do anything as people were “tearing through the aisles” and “strewing garbage across the store.” Longaro and her husband immediately left the CVS to go to Marinara and bought pizzas for the manager and crew. By the time they came back with the pizzas, the manager had already left for the day, but Longaro gave the remaining employees there the pizzas, intending to come back soon to help at the CVS again.

In one of the first posts on the Facebook page, Longaro posted that she was ordering lunch for the office of Dr. Brian Blinderman, a pediatrician in Hewlett, inviting the help of the locals.

“The whole time, I was really hoping it would take off,” Longaro said. “There are so many people who can benefit from a meal handed to them right now.”

“Hi guys! I cannot eat so much more than I already have been lately, but I am looking for a way to support our local businesses. I am going to start this today by ordering lunch for Blinderman’s office from a local restaurant. Who is in? Venmo me @BLongaro and I assure you to keep you updated on what we are able to buy from our local restaurants and donate to our local heroes and friends. One to five dollar donations welcome too!! Every penny is to support our local businesses!” Longaro said in the newly formed Facebook group chat.

Once the bill for Blinderman’s office was covered by donations, Longaro knew that “The Locals” would be able to take this even further, beyond Blinderman and CVS.

“This started as an effort to help local businesses, turned into a way to feed local workers and in only a few hours, has proved to me how much stronger we will all be during and after this - if we just STAY TOGETHER (while we are apart),” Longaro said.

This Facebook group is now well-known across the community.

“This is a group for anyone who wants to consider donating ANY amount of money, however often and however small or big to support our local businesses. Hewlett, Woodmere, Lynbrook, (you get it....LOCAL) while we all cope with adjusting to social distancing and somewhat sheltering in place,” the Facebook page reads. “The money you donate will stay local and pay for meals, meal certificates, specialty treats etc. from LOCAL businesses and go to LOCAL workers, families, friends who could use a meal while they are on the LOCAL frontlines ie. drug store employees, post office employees, police, firemen, doctors offices, grocery workers etc. Please keep local businesses in mind regardless of donating or not...The restaurant or business will know the purchase is from their LOCAL community and that we cannot wait to visit them again during better times...it does not feel that way but there are better times around the corner!” said Longaro.

In the first four days after Longaro sent that first meal to Blinderman, over $7,000 was raised and spent on food at local businesses - all of the food would end up getting sent to essential workers. By March 30, 10 days after the group started, over $31,275 had been raised, and $30,800 had been spent on local businesses. By April 5, over $44,000 had been raised, and $43,500 had been spent at local businesses. At the conclusion of the group’s work in an organized fashion, $56,640 was raised to help the locals. They stopped collecting donations on April 14. At the beginning of May, a decision was made to resume the group's efforts in helping the community. Now any donations to the group will be used to purchase gift cards for local families in need to help them to purchase meals.

Businesses have offered to donate food to essential workers through the group, but Longaro has always declined, stating that that is not what the group is about. The group is about supporting local businesses and essential workers at the same time. And so far, it has been doing just that. Since its creation, not only has Longaro facilitated the delivery of food to essential workers, but she has also sent gift certificates to essential workers, specifically first responders, and has sent meals to families in need.

Notes have been going out to businesses, saying “Dear Business, This order was placed collectively, from the community. It will be delivered to people working in the community who are not able to be home right now. Thank you for YOUR BUSINESS, and for being here. We are cheering you on (from at least six feet away) and cannot wait to come back! Love, Your Customers (past, present and future) AKA The Locals.” And attached to deliveries to essential workers, the note from “The Locals” reads: “This delivery is from the community. We appreciate you being here. We are grateful for all that you do, now more than ever. Love, The Locals.”

While Longaro started this group, she has not been working alone. Longaro wanted to offer a special thank you to Christine Bavaro, Sarah Fried, April Geanacopoulos, Jennifer Hagelberg, Lee Hoffman, Kelly McMahon, Ronny Nagar, Melanie Rosen and Heather Williams for all their assistance. From making phone calls to handling deliveries, Longaro said that they have been some of her greatest helpers in this community effort. And of course, without all of the community members who have either donated or shared the Facebook page, this could not have been possible.

“Community members can help by sharing the Facebook page,” Longaro said. “I try to stress often that donations are not necessary. I know that even if people are not donating they are probably at least looking at their letter carrier a little differently, with a little more appreciation than they have ever had for people in our community who are committed to our well being.”

Longaro wants to make it clear that her goal, as well as the goal of this group, is to help local businesses, essential workers and community members. But, Longaro also hopes that the group will help people gain a sense of appreciation for essential workers.

“Anyone who is not able to be home right now constantly has the potential of being exposed to COVID-19. WE need to recognize their commitment to the community, to us...every human is equally important,” Longaro said.

Longaro has certainly been the backbone of this group, having started it and also posting on the daily with updates of where “The Locals” have sent food and what businesses the food was sent from. Longaro appreciates the recognition that she has been getting but wants to make one thing clear - she is not a hero.

“I have gotten a lot of attention since this group started and I do not agree with people who call me a hero,” Longaro said. “I want people to call me a human. Hero is a very heavy title to wear, even temporarily. I do agree that m[ine] and The Locals’ efforts during these weeks have been heroic. I have put in a heroic effort. But I am very much a regular human.”

If you are interested in donating to this cause, please visit the group's Facebook page. If you are a local who is struggling and could benefit from a free meal right now, do not hesitate to reach out to Blair Longaro.