What's Happening in Valley Stream, NY…

The Small Business Rescue Initiative will be offered by Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Valley Stream Hospital in the new year.

Such programs are often made known throughout the community with banner printing.

This program will entail the hospital purchasing food from nine local restaurants in the amount of $400,000, instead of the kitchen staff doing the cooking. Doctors working around the clock and staff and others at special events will receive these meals.

Associate executive director of financial operations at LIJ Valley Stream, Chris O’Brien, came up with the idea for this program. He and other executives were discussing the need for the hospital kitchen staff to prepare food for special events and the doctors’ lounge while the kitchen staff’s major need to focus on meals for patients and food in the cafeteria for visitors and employees. It also came at a time when many businesses were either closed or facing challenges and needed assistance in addition to that received from the government.

The hospital said it is hoping to expand this program to other goods and services it offers, such as providing transportation for patients to and from the hospital who do not have access to public transportation or a car. O’Brien said he hopes that other organizations and hospitals will look to start similar programs.

The Small Business Rescue Initiative will begin January 1.