John Moore's Deli in Bellmore makes midnight deliveries to hospital workers island-wide

John Moore’s Deli has teamed up with Kilwins Confections in Suffolk County to deliver food to doctors and nurses working the overnight shifts at hospitals across Long Island during the coronavirus pandemic.

Owner Justin Heath said he could have closed his Bellmore deli until the pandemic waned — business is down more than 65 percent, he said. But, he noted, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.”

“I have a full staff that relies on an income,” Heath said, “so rather than close the doors, I wanted to be able to provide some business.”

Kilwins’ owner, John Murray III, began making deliveries to a couple of hospitals in Suffolk after he learned his sister-in-law was eating ice cream sandwiches for breakfast during her overnight shifts. “I knew I had to do something,” he said.

Murray connected with Heath through a mutual Facebook friend, and they teamed up to expand the effort into Nassau. Together, the businesses have served nearly 20 area hospitals (see box). Hospital personnel receive protein bars and shakes, fresh produce, sandwiches and other snack items to stay fueled through the long nights. Volunteers use their own vehicles and gas money to make the nightly deliveries, which support staffers working from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. 

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone that has volunteered their time,” Heath said. “We would not be able to accomplish this without them.”

Heath’s wife, Megan, is a nuclear medicine technologist at a hospital in Queens — she is also pregnant. When Heath picked her up from work after a 16-hour shift, Megan insisted on accompanying him to help with the overnight deliveries.

Heath remarked that many of the drop-offs have been emotional. “People start crying because of the generosity,” he said. “Whatever type of relief that we can offer to the overnight crew, we’ll do it.”

“My son saw a need,” said John Murray Jr., John III’s father and owner of Mulcahy’s Concert Hall in Wantagh. “Like many, he’s home watching his kids during the day so his wife can work. But he’s got the Murray blood, and in times of crisis, Murrays activate and do what we can for our community.”

Mulcahy’s is one of many local businesses helping to fund the overnight deliveries. Local business owners are asked to show support by donating so more deliveries can be made in the future. Individuals can also donate at “Feed the Nurses (PM shift)” on GoFundMe.com. At press time, the effort had raised more than $19,000.