East Meadow Chamber welcomes community ‘forward’ with paint night

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The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce held its second in-person event since the pandemic on April 8 at Pinot’s Palette of East Meadow. It’s first in-person event was the Easter-egg hunt. The events serve as a welcome “forward” as the community inches towards a post-pandemic world.

“Pinot’s Palette has been a phenomenal host,” said Richie Krug, the president of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce. “They gave us a specific amount of people we can hold at a socially acceptable distance and we were able to sell out.”

The event, which was organized by Marcella Pizzo, the treasurer of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, featured an instructional painting session under a black light and dinner served by The Bagel Place Caterers.

Attendance was limited to allow for social distance and money raised through tickets, $55 for the paint session and $25 without it, went towards the East Meadow Chamber Foundation. How that money will be invested into the community will be decided at a later date, Krug said.

“The best way to support the chamber is to shop local,” Krug said. “Look for the chamber logo and shop at your local mom and pop stores, the ones that support your kid’s little leagues.”

The chamber has been there for the community throughout the pandemic, Krug said, whether it was holding informative seminars on how to access the Paycheck Protect Program, buying from local restaurants to provide dinner for first responders and essential workers or securing personal protective equipment for businesses.

“At that time, not a lot of businesses were able to grab, get their hands on hand sanitizer, face masks and all this other stuff,” said James P. Skinner, the vice president of the chamber. “We were able to get that for these small businesses, get them a package so they could open up their businesses safely, so that when people go to see their business, come in and feel safe and feel protected.”

Now, with vaccines being administered and an end to the pandemic in sight, it is important to restore community vibrancy, Pizzo said.

“I think it’s about moving forward and reframing our narrative,” said Pizzo. “Folks are looking to get things done. People in our community are trying to get out to go eat and try to celebrate and establish a sense of normalcy. And this was the first step.”