STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A group of real estate professionals wanted to help others in need during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“As Realtors, we are all limited with what we can do, and we feel helpless staying home. So we have been determined to make a difference here to protect our medical staff,” said real estate agent Elizabeth Del Priore.
First, the group started a Facebook group called Corona Virus-Staten Island Helping Hand.
"We wanted to help the Staten Island community stay in touch and be informed about Coronavirus updates,” said Del Priore of the group, which now has 1,222 members.
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“As the group grew, medical staff started to share their stories about lack of supplies, specifically N95 masks. We know they are reusing masks, which isn’t ideal, therefore want to help bring them as many as we can source,” she added.
And it’s been a real team effort among her colleagues.
“First, Stephanie Orefice located a warehouse with over 50,000 masks. Jimmy Samaha has been laying out the money to buy the masks and ship them to the three hospital (sites) on Staten Island. Nicola Papandrea has been trying to collect as many donations as we could from networking to all people we know in all of our databases,” said Del Priore.
The group immediately created a GoFundMe page to source donations to cover the costs of buying N95 masks, she said. To date, $4,283 has been raised to purchase the much-needed masks. Both sites of Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) and Richmond University Medial Center (RUMC) have already received donations from the group.
And they are seeking to purchase more, Del Priore said.
FEEDING SIUH STAFF
In addition, another GoFundMe page was set up by local residents to help feed the staff at SIUH. That page, set up by Joseph Cerciello, has already raised $5,330.
“Doctors and nurses are working around the clock at SIUH taking care of those stricken with COVID-19. They are working in unprecedented conditions and proper personal protective equipment is getting scarce,” says the GoFundMe page. “As a community, to show support and appreciation for all that they do, we should make sure they’re nourished with food from local restaurants who are also impacted by COVID-19. #FeedTheFrontlineSI.”
Both hospitals said they are very appreciative of the donations.
“The outpouring of love and support has been unbelievable,” said Jillian M. O’Hara, an SIUH spokeswoman. “We’re grateful to our community for all their efforts to support our front-line care providers and to those reaching out to inquire about ways to help us as we confront the pandemic.”
Said RUMC president and chief executive officer, Dr. Daniel J. Messina: “We will never be able to adequately express our thanks to everyone who has thought about us. We have received tremendous support since the beginning from corporations, local organizations and individuals on Staten Island and outside the borough who have provided us with donations of supplies and food for our staff and patients."
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