A year of giving back for body shop

On April 24, Nick Bilotta celebrated his one-year anniversary as the owner of Final Touch, a body repair shop on Merrick Road in Seaford. In that time, he has been finding ways to support the community that supports his business.

Bilotta, 25, of Lynbrook, bought the long-standing business from Bill Arnold and has sought to make a difference in Seaford, which he now calls a second home. “I obviously care about this place a lot,” he said. “It’s where I make a living.”

One of his biggest initiatives was helping the Wantagh-based John Theissen Children’s Foundation. Bilotta met Theissen, a Seaford resident, who came in to get some work done on his car and learned about the organization which helps sick and needy children.

In December, Theissen held his annual holiday toy drive and Bilotta paid to rent a van for the foundation so volunteers could go around and pick up donations.

Final Touch is also a sponsor of the Seaford-based Long Island Broncos youth football league, the Seaford Little League, and Seaford High School wrestling and cheerleading.

In addition to making a financial contribution to the wrestling program, he sponsored the cheerleaders so they could attend an out-of-state competition. He also helped pay for the white and green bench cushions that are made available for Seaford High School sporting events.

Bilotta made a donation to the Seaford Lions Club last year to support its annual golf outing. Other contributions have supported the VFW, and breast cancer and leukemia research.

He has also become active in the Seaford Chamber of Commerce, and earlier this year was sworn in as a member of the Board of Directors. On April 4, he was one of several Chamber representatives at the annual Easter egg hunt at Seaman’s Neck Park.

He took a car that was going to be junked and donated it to Seaford High School for a campaign against drinking and driving. The smashed car was placed on the front lawn with a sign, “Friends don’t let friends drive impaired.”

Bilotta said part of the foundation of a successful business is being active and involved in the town. “Any event that happens in the community, we want to donate,” he said. “If the community helps you, you’re supposed to help the community.”

Final Touch, located on the south side of Merrick Road just west of the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway, does auto body repairs, detailing, inspections, oil changes and mechanical work, and provides around-the-clock towing. He said business is growing, and he has recently upgraded equipment and hired four additional workers.

“Everybody who comes in is family,” he said. “How I would treat my family is how I would treat my customers.”

Bilotta got his start working for family at his cousin’s auto body shop before buying his own business. He said he plans to be in Seaford for a long time, and wants to be known as a business that gives back.