Thursday, October 1, 2026
For 25 years, Geri Barish, a five-time cancer survivor, has been supporting cancer patients and their families through Hewlett House, a free resource center.
Barish turned her personal tragedy into a mission by fighting for patients’ rights and learning more about cancers causes. She lost her mother to breast cancer in 1974 and her son Michael to Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1986.
Located on East Rockaway Road in Hewlett, Hewlett House’s property is the oldest farmhouse on Long Island, built 387 years ago, according to Barish.
“Everything in this house was donated,” Barish said. “We work with all the Key Clubs and the kids organize the mastectomy bras by size. The teachers also come down and volunteer on the weekends.”
Barish emphasized that the help of the community is everything to her and the patients.
When asked what her favorite room is, Barish said the wig room because she has a special connection with the wigs and calls then her “girls”.
“I love this room because it’s so personal, when we come in I’ll go ‘so girls what’s up today?’ they’re all smiling and all happy,” she said. “They’re gorgeous these girls.”
There are 5,200 wigs organized by length and color stored around the house along with the ones on display.
“We have a storage shed and it’s amazing, every time someone takes one we replace it,” Barish said. “It makes you feel good to know that we’re really helping those in need.”
Women are allowed one wig of their choosing and most come recommended by hospitals and local beauty parlors.
“I ask people to please call if they want a wig because there’s only Ellen and I who know how to do the wigs,” she said. “I want to make sure we’re gentle and it’s clean, I prefer them to call so they can fill out an intake form.”
In July, Hewlett House gave out 304 wigs the most she has ever seen in one month.
She explained that “everyday is a holiday” in the house, decorations for every holiday could be seen throughout the house.
Barish said that 17 years ago, she hosted a full Thanksgiving meal for a patient and his family in July because he was going to miss that the most.
“We had almost 100 people here, patients came at 5:30 in the morning to put the turkey in the oven, it was a fun thing to do and he didn’t know,” Barish said.
She stressed that the community, schools and colleges brings smiles to patients’ faces.
“I’ve never met such wonderful people working through the colleges and the schools,” she added. “The kids write cards and bring holiday cards with sayings inside as part of community service. It’s so nice, the patients’ will come in and look through the bucket and they love it.”
When Hewlett House first opened, they only helped those with breast cancer —now they see people with all types of cancer.
Over the years, Barish has helped push for and create legislation defraying the cost of cancer-related medical bills. She has led environmental studies on Long Island to diminish the use of pesticides and label the carcinogenic ones.
“We try to give as much information a we can, we never turn anybody away,” Barish said. “Here, it’s really a home, it’s warm. I love to come here, it’s peaceful.”
For more information about Hewlett House, call (516) 374-2385.
