Franklin Square residents share words of encouragement

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The Herald recently asked residents to send thank-you letters and hopeful messages to be published in the paper. Here are some of the submissions:

Thank you Best Market employees for your work

I would like to take a minute to thank the management and employees at Best Market. Throughout this pandemic, they have done their best to stay open, restock the store and get everyone in and out as quickly as possible. It has been comforting to have a local place to shop that is quick and easy, and has continued to have a great selection of fresh produce, meat and everything else we need.  

I never appreciated a grocery store as much as I do during this crisis. Thank you for all that you are doing for the community!

— Kathleen Evangelista, Franklin Square


Thanks for helping us out

So in these unique, trying times I wanted to share what has been encouraging to me. I am retired and usually very involved with community groups in Franklin Square on a daily basis, but since my wife and I are over 70 we are following the guidelines for self-quarantining ourselves in our home. During the first week staying in our home, we received a phone call from our younger neighbor down the block asking if there was anything we needed. We said ‘no,’ but were very touched by his thoughtfulness. A few days later, we got a call from our good friends living in Mineola who are also much younger and asked us again if we needed anything. Long Islanders are reaching out to check on the elderly, and it made us feel very lucky to have such caring neighbors and friends.

When Long Island was hit by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, we saw how neighbors helped others in their time of need. We were the only house with a generator, and we stored neighbors’ perishable foods in our two refrigerators. Then, when a blizzard hit Long Island, we hosted a potluck snow party in our large dining room for all our neighbors.

I have organized virtual meetings online for my Rotary board for our weekly meetings since we can no longer meet in person, and we held our first virtual library board meeting online open to the community residents last week. I am not sure when this pandemic will be over, but when it is life will be changed forever just like how 9/11 changed us. I look forward to the day when I can hug and kiss my friends and neighbors again. Please be safe!

— Bill Youngfert, Franklin Square