COVID-19 GoFundMe donates excess to SBELIH

The organizers of an East End COVID-19 GoFundMe have donated the excess raised to Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital (SBELIH).

Earlier this year, Richard Vandenburgh and John Leigey, co-founders of Greenport Harbor Brewing Company teamed up with Jamie, Bob, and William Mills of William J. Mills & Co. Sailmakers to develop and produce face shields for local hospitals, first responders, and community outreach volunteers, SBELIH said in a news release.

In collaboration with Mark Miller, former owner of Miller Environmental and Bob Gammon, co-owner of Woodside Orchards in Jamesport and co-lead advisor for the Southold/Greenport robotics team, the businesses started a GoFundMe called Operation COVID-19 Defense Fund, hoping the community would step up and contribute to this worthy cause. The fundraiser initially set a $25,000 goal.

“We raised $28,000 in three days,” Vandenburgh said, shortly after the fundraiser’s inception. “We’ve raised what we anticipated we would need to fund approximately 5,000 units; any excess funds will be turned over to the hospital to purchase equipment, beds, or whatever is needed.”

The organizers ultimately created a total of 8,050 face shields for local essential workers. Thanks to over 280 generous donors, the initiative has raised over $47,000 to date, SBELIH said.

The funds donated to SBELIH will be used to acquire additional resources to support the hospital’s institution-wide infection prevention efforts, including additional COVID-19 testing equipment and ultraviolet cleaning equipment.

“We are so grateful for our community’s extraordinary efforts to help us sustain our hospital’s mission to serve the North Fork and Shelter Island,” says Paul J. Romanelli, Chairman of the ELIH Foundation Board. “To the Brewery, the Mills family, Mr. Miller, Mr. Gammon, and the donors who have generously supported this initiative: thank you for standing with us.”

For more information about how you can support SBELIH and the Eastern Long Island Hospital Foundation, please call (631) 477-5164 or email elih_donations@stonybrookmedicine.edu.