Oceansider uses design talent to thank frontline workers

Alex Ducorsky, 20, of Oceanside, is selling merchandise with a design he created to honor healthcare workers fighting on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.

His website, honorourheroesusa.com, offers apparel and accessories with a logo that says “Thank You To All Our Heroes.” Products include T-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, tote bags, mugs and pins. Ducorsky will donate a portion of his proceeds to local hospitals.

“I wanted to put my talent to good use and give back in any way I could,” he said.

Ducorsky graduated Oceanside High School in 2017. He now attends SUNY Cortland for sports management and business, although he is currently home due to school closures. In his spare time, he decided to make this design and plans to make others honoring different frontline workers, including food service and first responders.

“[Medical workers] are like the soldiers going into battle,” he said. “I wanted to honor them first in some way.”

The college student gained confidence in his design skills last fall when he won a contest at SUNY Cortland. Each year, when the school football team competes against its rival, Ithaca College, the school holds a T-shirt design competition. This year, Ducorsky’s design won, and 1,000 students wore it on a T-shirt at the big game, dubbed the Cortaca Jug, in November 2019 at MetLife stadium.

Ducorsky’s new venture, the Honor Our Heroes online shop, just launched a few days ago and has made a few sales so far. He hopes to reach more people with his designs going forward.