Farmingdale Merchants Raise Over $900 For Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition With Round-Up

FARMINGDALE, NY — Farmingdale merchants raised $924 for the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition in May — the inaugural month for the Round-Up Campaign created in collaboration with the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce.

The Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition is a grass roots, volunteer-based non-profit group founded by three friends sitting around the kitchen table in Babylon Village in 1993, co-founder Karen Kunkel said. The charity has grown and evolved over the last 32 years. The charity's goal is to assist women and men with gynecologic cancers in the Babylon township.

The assistance falls under the charity's Lend A Helping Hand Program, which continues to be the "driving force" of the nonprofit.

Toni Anne Summers, secretary of Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition, accepted the donation on Wednesday afternoon on the Village Green.

"It means so much to us, because now, these days, it's these types of donations that are allowing us to support the women who have breast cancer," Summers told Patch.

The program seeks to help cancer patients with transportation, to and from chemotherapy and radiation treatments, paying copays, electric bills, food bills, rent, house cleaning, and babysitting.

"We help women who are struggling to make ends meet while they're going through breast cancer," Summers said. "We help put food on the table. Help pay bills and rent. Many women don't work, and they don't get sick time."

The Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition also helps with the funeral expenses of a woman who dies of breast cancer.

Participating business owners will vote on a Long Island-based cancer charity or cancer-adjacent charity. Merchants will ask customers if they would like to round up their bills for the designated nonprofit. The Farmingdale Business Improvement District will present a check to the designated charity at the end of each round-up period.

Joe Garcia, president of Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce, said the first month of the Round-Up Campaign went well.

"We have some stuff to build on to make it even better, but ultimately, anytime you can bring together the average person, the average small business — everybody's just trying to make it all work — and have them do a little bit to really make a big impact for women who are dealing with breast cancer, and as we go forward, with other cancer charities, I think that's a win for everybody," Garcia said. "People are looking for outlets to do well and to do good. Both businesses and residents."

Roberta Perry, owner of ScrubzBody Skin Care Products, was one of the first merchants to sign up for the round-up program.

"I love the campaign, because it allows our customers to make us look like heroes," Perry said. "Those 20 cents, those 80 cents, [customers] will be like, 'No, no, no. Don't put it on the charge, and I'll throw a few extra dollars in. They really love doing something. And it's little. But little adds up to big. It's become very easy and customary."

Perry, who has a collection jar on her counter, has had great success with customers being willing to donate.

"It's sometimes hard to go to small businesses, because some are struggling themselves, and say, 'Can you keep giving? Can you keep giving?'" Perry said. "But this way, I'll throw an extra $5 in. For me, it's so easy, because my customers are doing most of the hard lifting. I'm thrilled to be able to do this. It just highlights small businesses helping small charities."

Garcia said the campaign split the effort to raise funds for charity among everybody.

"I think it brought some more awareness," he said. "I think it brought some more businesses to some of the small businesses. Most importantly, it brought some money to the charity."

Summers thanked all involved, from the chamber of commerce to the shops to the customers.

"I can't tell you how much we appreciate the work that you did to put together this donation," Summers said. "It means the world to the women we support. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

May's participating list of businesses included:

• ScrubzBody Skin Care Products, at 245 Main Street
• The Empanada Spot, at 850b Main Street
• Burgerology Farmingdale, at 247 Main Street
• The Villager Farmingdale, at 306 Main Street
• The Nutty Irishman, at 323 Main Street
• The Nutty Irishman Recovery Room Cafe, at 323 Main Street
• 317 Main Street, at 317 Main Street
• Vico Costiera Amalfitana, at 313 Main Street
• Angela's Bra Boutique, at 223 Main Street
• Lithology Brewing Company, at 211A Main Street