Coronavirus: Staten Island businesses offering free goods, services

Coronavirus kindness

Milk-N-Things, West Brighton, is offering free breakfast and lunch to area children during the coronavirus pandemic. (Scott Sommer for the Staten Island Advance)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread, many Staten Island businesses are reaching out to support first responders, medical personnel and residents who are struggling because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Through promotions and offers of free goods and services, Staten Island’s business community is stepping up and getting creative with free offers and giveaways.

They are offering everything from free hand sanitizers to first responders and those on the front lines in hospitals, to free lunches to school children and gift cards to anyone who makes a donation toward providing medical staff with supplies.

“I feel like right now is the time to be there for our community,’’ said Mayank Parikh, whose Pleasant Plains pharmacy is giving out free hand sanitizer to first responders and medical personnel, and donating supplies to doctors and nurses on the front lines in Island hospitals.

Below is a list of Staten Island businesses and professionals offering free goods and services or fundraising to benefit local medical efforts in the battle with the coronavirus.

Coronavirus kindness

Milk-N-Things is offering hospital staff and first responders a free coffee any time of day. (Scott Sommer for the Staten Island Advance)

Milk-N-Things

Milk-N-Things delicatessen and grocery store, in West Brighton, is offering free breakfast and lunch to children during the coronavirus pandemic.

The deli is also offering freebies and discounts to first responders and hospital personnel.

“I plan to continue this,’’ said store owner Shahbaz Warraich, of the meal offerings. “It doesn’t take that much to offer a bagel or a sandwich. A lot of people are sitting home now with no job. It’s not that I’m rolling in dough, I’m struggling myself, but I’m glad to do it.’’

With New York City schools closed, many children in the community are in need of breakfast and lunch, he said.

The offerings include a roll or bagel with cream cheese or butter and a Capri Sun drink for breakfast. For lunch, the store is offering a children’s sandwich of bologna or turkey with cheese. Meals are free and no purchase is necessary, Warraich said.

Additionally, hospital staff and first responders can grab a free coffee there any time of day and receive 15% off their purchase.

The Forest Avenue store is located across the street from Prall Intermediate School (I.S. 27).

Corona kindness

Dr. Jamshad Wyne, shown in this 2011 photo, is offering free telemedical consultations during the coronavirus pandemic. Staten Island Advance

Dr. Jamshad Wyne

Dr. Jamshad Wyne, a Dongan Hills physician specializing in internal medicine and nuclear cardiology, is offering free telemedicine visits to Staten Islanders during the coronavirus medical emergency.

“I can see hundreds of patients online,’’ Wyne said, explaining that the video conferences with patients typically last about 15 minutes. “If it gets more popular, I’ll set up a system. Right now, I can do audio or FaceTime.’’

Wyne, who’s been in practice for more than 20 years, said he’s hoping to encourage Staten Islanders who have flu-like symptoms or chest pain to get a medical opinion right away. He said he’s also willing to treat patients with any other symptoms, as well.

The doctor’s daughter, Sophia, 22, who has a pre-medical degree from Barnard College/Columbia University and is a professional medical transcriptionist who’s planning to attend medical school, will volunteer to assist him as he treats the patients, Wyne said.

He is currently reporting to his Richmond Road office daily, and can prescribe testing for the coronavirus over the phone. Laboratories, such as LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, are performing the tests on Staten Island for those who are symptomatic of the coronavirus.

“They can call me for any reason,’’ Wyne said. “They must be symptomatic to have the corona test. But if they have heart problems, or shortness of breath, they can talk to me and I can differentiate that for them, in case they do have to go to the hospital.’’

Wyne is well known in the borough for his generosity.

He has run free cardiac clinics on Staten Island in recent years, and, in 2011, he donated $50,000 to the Staten Island Heart Imaging Foundation to cover the cost of an initial round of flu shots for borough residents. He dispensed those shots for free. He has also provided free Thanksgiving turkey dinners out of Staten Island Heart Imaging’s Dongan Hills office.

Anyone interested in a telemedicine consultation should call Wyne’s office at 718-351-0500, or his cell number, 718-757-1931. Sophia Wyne will also accept calls at 718-440-5503. If they are unavailable, a staffer will return the call to set up an appointment for the video consultation.

Free detailing to doctors and nurses

Avad Bruno cleans and disinfects the interior of a car at Barry's Auto Body in Eltingville. The shop is offering free interior and exterior detailing to doctors and nurses in Staten Island's hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic. (Courtesy of Barry's Auto Body)

Barry’s Auto Body

The owners of Barry’s Auto Body in Eltingville have been offering free interior and exterior car cleaning for doctors and nurses working at Staten Island’s three hospital sites and urgent care facilities during the health crisis.

“It’s our way of saying thank you for their hard work,” said Barry Crupi.

Michelle Crupi enthusiastically agreed.

"Our medical professionals are on the front line in the fight against COVID 19,’’ she said. “We wanted to help them any way we can. But, what could we do? The best we can do is to clean their cars.’’

Staff at Barry’s, which specializes in auto repairs, auto body work and detailing, uses a special sanitizer for the interior of the cars, designed to kill more than 99% of bacteria and viruses, Michelle Crupi said.

Since posting to Facebook on Monday, about eight people have taken them up on the offer, she said, adding, “They seem to be loving it."

Doctors and nurses interested in receiving a free interior and exterior car cleaning can call (718) 948-8585 to schedule an appointment or stop by Barry’s Auto Body at 4301 Amboy Rd., with a valid identification badge. The process can take up to an hour, Michelle Crupi said.

Glamour Nails

The owners of Glamour Nails, Shao Lu and Dee Zhou, deliver donuts and coffee to the staff at Staten Island University Hospital on Thursday, March 27. (Photo courtesy of Glamour Nails)

Glamour Nails

Managers and staff at Glamour Nails salons have raised more than $6,000 and are buying supplies for medical staff at Staten Island’s hospitals.

Initially, managers Shao Lu and Dee Zhou collected donations from staff and friends, raising more than $4,000. The salon’s owner often orders gloves and masks for her salon business directly from China, said Lu, who used her supply connections to order 50 boxes gloves. She picked them up in Brooklyn, and personally delivered them to the Island’s three hospitals.

“All the doctors and nurses were so happy,’’ Lu said. Additionally, a friend started a Gofundme account, called “NY Hospital Supplies Fund,” and the money keeps coming in, she said.

To generate even more funds for the medical teams’ needs, Lu and Zhou are offering a $20 salon gift certificate to anyone who donates $20 or more to the cause.

“We want to get the word out to everyone on Staten Island that we are stronger as a team,’’ said Lu, who on Wednesday took a trip to SIUH to deliver 10 dozen donuts and coffee to medical staff.

The salons, located at 3579 Victory Blvd. and 1949 Richmond Ave., have been ordered closed by the governor’s mandate. To make a donation and receive a gift certificate, call 718-801-7911.

Daddy O's

The Angiuli Group, the Tompkinsville real estate development and business investment group responsible for the development of Restaurant Row on Minthorne Street, recently provided 180 meals to hospital staff at Richmond University Medical Center in appreciation for their dedication. (Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimo)Staff-Shot

The Angiuli Group

The Angiuli Group, the Tompkinsville real estate development and business investment group responsible for the development of Restaurant Row on Minthorne Street, recently provided 180 meals to hospital staff at Richmond University Medical Center in appreciation for their dedication.

“They need support,’’ said Gary Angiuli, chief executive officer of the group. “This was a way to say ‘thank you,’ to the valiant people who are working in the hospital, and not only the medical staff. It’s a small gesture compared to the heroic gestures that they’re making.’’

For three days, the Angiuli Group ordered 60 meals to be delivered each day by three Restaurant Row venues, Daddy O’s, Flour and Oak and O’Henry’s Publick House. The gesture supported the RUMC staff and gave much-needed business to the food venues, which are struggling since the governor’s executive order required all non-essential business closed and permit take-out only at the state’s restaurants.

“It’s like a war effort,’’ Angiuli said of the medical staff’s efforts at RUMC. “We have to act as a community now and support one another. Even small gestures of kindness go a long way.’’

Super Health Pharmacy

Super Health Pharmacy in Pleasant Plains is offering free three-ounce hand sanitizers to any first responders, medical or pharmacy personnel for as long as they can get the supplies, according to owner Mayank Parikh, who also provided more than 100,000 pieces of protective equipment to staff at the Island’s hospitals.

Parikh said he plans to give out hundreds of bottles of sanitizer, which he makes by redistributing the sanitizer from gallon jugs. Last week, it flew off the shelves, he said.

“I feel like right now is the time to be there for our community,’’ he said, noting that people may remember the good things you do, but “down the line, you’ll regret what you didn’t do.’’

Super Health Pharmacy is located at 6400 Amboy Rd. and offers free delivery of prescriptions and over-the-counter items, as well.

Island Auto Group

Staten Island’s largest auto dealer announced it will offer service and loaner vehicles to any first responders and essential service personnel who find themselves without a working vehicle during the coronavirus outbreak.

“Island Auto Group will make every effort to provide important vehicle services to first responder/ essential personnel on a priority basis,” the group said in a statement.

First responders and essential service personnel should reach out to emergencyservice@islandautogroup.com for the assistance.

The Men With Tools

Staten Island businessman John Kolbaska, owner of a home improvement company in Great Kills called “The Men With Tools,” said he wants to make a difference amid the catastrophic coronavirus crisis by offering to help the elderly and homebound.

The firm specializes in windows, doors and hardwood floor replacements and is located at 4193 Hylan Blvd. His staff has some free time, now, he explained, and they’re willing to run errands, pick up medications or deliver groceries to anyone in need.

“But no promises on toilet paper," he said with a chuckle.

Kolbaska said those in need of help should give him a call at 347-815-4151 -- and there is no charge.

“If you have other suggestions about how we can help you or others, please let us know. And please share this post to get the word out to others," he said. "We hope to help as many people as we can. There will be difficult times ahead, but Staten Islanders stick together and we will get through this together.”

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