Local Florist Finds Ways To Support Community Amid Coronavirus

DEER PARK, NY — Normally this time of year, Elle Mangano who owns Family Florist in Deer Park, receives about 400 order for Mother's Day. But due to the coronavirus, the local business, which has been operating in the area for 13 years, has only received about 40 to 50 orders. The small business, located on 1683 Deer Park Avenue, is just one of the many local business on Long Island suffering during this crisis.

"There are days I sit here all day long and I make $10 and then there's are other days that I make some sales. But for the most part, most people aren't even thinking about flowers or plant baskets, or gourmet baskets, so it's been completely dead," she told Patch.

Typically, Mangano has about six or seven employees helping her with her operation, even more for busy times like Mother's Day weekend. For the past five or six weeks, she's mostly been working alone every single day.

"Usually for the week of Mother's Day, we have at least 20 employees in here and we can't keep up with the phone and customer orders," she said. "If this was a normal holiday, I would drown with all the orders."

For a while, she was forced to operate "a flower shop with no flowers" because the wholesalers were closed and Family Florist was just not receiving enough flowers to sell. Instead, Mangano was selling things like plants, balloon bouquets and gourmet baskets. But she said that her community was still supportive. She says that every time a customer would call and she would have to tell them she had no flowers, they were so good about it. Despite that she didn't have enough flowers to sell, her customers were willing to buy her baskets or plants.

"The Deer Park community did not disappoint, I can always count on the Deer Park community," she said. "They're helping me to support my family. We love our customers and hope they are happy with everything they receive from us."

Despite everything, Mangano is still working to serve the local community, working with her two older kids and a driver to make no contact deliveries. Her business is also currently offering curbside pickup.

"The Deer Park community is awesome — they really stand behind the small businesses," she said. "They've been great."

She's also been finding ways to fundraiser for those in need. Last month just before Easter, Mangano participated in a fundraiser where her employees donated their time to sell plants to donate the proceeds to first responders at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore. In five days, she helped to raise $3,000 for the frontline workers.

Before the pandemic, she also helped with a fundraiser for the family of Thomas Valva, an 8-year old boy from Center Moriches who died after authorities said he was kept in a frigid garage all night. Mangano donated all flowers to the funeral, and is also arranging for donations of gift cards, clothing, food and gifts for Thomas' brothers to be collected, since they are starting over.

According to Mangano, she believes people should support local businesses, since they are the people who help the community.

"Anytime there's a fundraiser, it's the local businesses that are supporting it, not the big box stores," she said. "So whenever anybody needs help, or they're doing a fundraiser or they need things for the schools from us, we're the first ones to step up and give gift certificates and free items and things like that, so in return we're very appreciative that they then support us."

One thing Mangano wanted to emphasize there is a misconception that florists are more expensive compared to other big box stores.

"We have something to fit everybody's budget," she said. "We can even make a $2.50 item and it would be really pretty."

Right now, those who want to support the business can order online on the Family Florist website or phone at 631-274-5510.

All photos courtesy of Elle Mangano