Greenport Brewery Delivers Face Shields

Greenport Harbor Brewing Company delivered 500 face shields to Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital April 8. The delivery was made by Greenport Harbor co-founder and president of the Village of Greenport Business Improvement District, Richard Vandenburgh.

Vandenburgh and John Leigey, the brewery’s other co-founder, teamed up with Jamie, Bob, and William Mills of William J. Mills & Co. sailmakers to develop and produce face shields for local hospitals, first responders, and community outreach volunteers.

William J. Mills “has the ability to crank out all the pieces in their shop, and we have the space to assemble,” Vandenburgh said, discussing what he saw as a perfect mashup. Each shield is assembled, cleaned, and individually packed at the brewery under social distancing guidelines.

Mark Miller, former owner of Miller Environmental, and Bob Gammon, co-owner of Woodside Orchards in Jamesport, joined in and the businesses started a GoFundMe with the hope the community would contribute. It worked — $28,000 was raised in three days. The amount is estimated to fund approximately 5000 units with any excess money to be donated directly to the hospital.

This act adds to Greenport Harbor Brewing Company’s continuous support of the hospital, as the company donates beer to the annual summer gala. William J. Mills and Co. are also generous supporters of the hospital’s annual golf classic. Right now, the team aims to assemble approximately 1400 shields daily, as long as they have the volunteer power.

“With each new call to action in response to the COVID-19 crisis, our community has answered,” said Paul Connor, chief administrative officer at SBELIH. “We are so grateful to the brewery, the Mills family, Mr. Miller, Mr. Gammon, the volunteers, and the donors who have all contributed to this extraordinary display of teamwork and philanthropy.”

Anyone interested in volunteering can email Vandenburgh at rich@greenportbrew.com or by calling 631-513-9019. Requirements to be a volunteer include being free from any illness, at least 16 years old, able to wear face mask, and stand for three hours.

For more information about how you can aid the hospital and its foundation, call 631-477-5164 or email elih_donations@stonybrookmedicine.edu.

nicole@indyeastend.com