Thursday, October 1, 2026
What: Project Pay it Forward’s Project 8 to raise money to help bring Swingbellys back.
When: Saturday, April 20, 6-9 p.m.
Where: The Saloon, 1016 W. Beech St.
Details: $40 all you can eat and drink; food provided by The Saloon, live music by
Andy Rossi and raffle drawings. Seaside Celebrations offering babysitting services during the event and is located nearby. Call (516) 432-4386 to make a reservation; $30 for the first child, $5 for additional siblings; includes pizza and juice.
About:
The Long Beach Surfer’s Association, along with Earth Arts, Swingbellys and the Janet Slavin law firm, launched Project Pay It Forward in January, a collaborative effort aimed at getting storm-ravaged Long Beach businesses rebuilt and off the ground. The organization helps one local business at a time by determining its needs — be it a fundraiser or just someone to help put up sheetrock in a gutted space — and then organizing volunteers to help do the work, or host an event to raise money. The hope is that once a business is restored, it will “pay it forward” and help the group with the next project. The group’s next mission is to help Swingbellys, the West End barbecue joint that was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.
Swingbellys’ owner Sean Sullivan and his crew have supported the community in the aftermath of Sandy despite the devastation to the business and have become known for putting the needs of Long Beach before their own. It has held a number of barbecues for West End residents struggling after the storm, helped create a Shop Long Beach for the Holidays gift card drive, and continues to give back through Pay it Forward. Of course, Swingbellys is credited for saving Thanksgiving in Long Beach when it served meals to approximately 2,000 residents who were displaced or dealing with damaged homes.
How to help: Come have fun to help raise money, or donate raffle items (drop off at Earth Arts, 162, W. Park Ave.). For more information, visit www.facebook.com/payitforwardlb.
