Flower Hill Launches 'Volunteer Corps' Coronavirus Response

FLOWER HILL, NY — As residents are ordered to stay home to slow the spread of the new coronavirus and New York unemployment skyrockets, the Village of Flower Hill is looking for more volunteers to check on neighbors in need.

The "Flower Hill Volunteer Corps" was announced March 25 with the goal to identify neighbors who may struggle to get food, supplies, or need other assistance, and find a way to meet their needs. The initiative has gotten some momentum among a dozen volunteers and Trustee Gary Lewandowski said he would like to see that number double.

"Our ideal is to get every block accounted for," he said.

Volunteers can be of any age and the village is looking for help with three things in particular:

• The home address or contact info for those that may be in need.
• A block captain for every block in the village to coordinate activities.
• Volunteers to check in by phone or with a note with those in need.

"Even beyond the current crisis, we'd love to maintain the network of volunteers and carry it over even in good times," Lewandowski said. "We're hoping this is something that kind of unites people in a way it might not have otherwise."

Interested in volunteering? Call (516) 627-5000 or email volunteer@villageflowerhill.org.