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Fair Village shows ‘signs’ of appreciation
The pandemic disrupted business for a number of industries, forcing companies to find ways to work remotely during the shutdown. But at the local level, many essential workers were vital to keeping basic services in working order.
Police, firefighters, municipal workers, doctors, nurses, postal workers, grocery store workers and many others were among those who all helped by working throughout the pandemic to provide the most essential needs.
Each “Thank You” sign was sold for $20, and the money was used to provide breakfasts and dinners to first responders, health care heroes and essential workers with the electric, fire, police, sanitation, building and public works departments.
“We needed our emergency services,” Baxley said. “Residents really wanted to help out and it made the workers feel appreciated.”
Carol Ruchalski, a Rockville Centre resident and founder of the Mary Ruchalski Foundation, which helps fund pediatric cancer research, said the idea stemmed from a conversation she had with her daughter, Lyndsey, now 26, who suggested making “Thank You” signs to show their appreciation to essential workers.
“We were helping to make masks for hospital workers after learning they didn’t have any protection, and we started thinking about what else we could do for them,” Ruchalski told the Herald in 2020. “Originally, we were just going to make a homemade sign. Then I mentioned it to Kathy, and she took it from there.”
With the help of McDonald, they were able to have 10 banners ready just before Easter weekend. Ruchalski, Baxley and former RVC Board of Education Trustee John O’Shea hung the banners on fences at each of the elementary schools, South Side Middle School, the Rockville Centre Volunteer Fire Department, Molloy University, Mercy Medical Center and Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital.
Baxley posted the idea on social media, and donations quickly began pouring in, along with requests from residents for lawn signs. In no time, they had orders for 200 signs, followed by another order for 300 more.
Although some of the signs have been taken down, since the end of the Public Health Emergency was declared in May, still several of the red, white and blue lawn signs could be seen throughout the community.
Baxley said she felt the idea was a huge benefit for everybody who felt a need to show appreciation.
“It was such a feel-good thing,” Baxley said. “A lot of work went into making them, and I am proud of the positivity that has come out of it.”
She said that another positive for local commerce that came out of the pandemic was the addition of outdoor dining at restaurants and establishments around the community.
“That wasn’t as common before Covid,” she said. “Each time it comes up at the board meetings we make sure to approve it. It’s such a nice thing to see.”
