Raising ‘Light And Love’ In Port Washington

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Some Port Washington residents are looking to mix a little love with a happy new year next month in a dual celebration of St. Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year that is designed to provide a little light to the lives of the needy.

“I can’t fathom not being able to feed my child. But many families don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” said Give Port Washington Light and Love organizer Diane Venezia Livingston, noting that Port Washington has a diverse community.

“That’s what people forget,” she added.

Funds collected for Give Port Washington Light and Love in a drive managed by the Port Washington Community Chest will be used to purchase gift cards that will be distributed to food pantries for needy families to use at local restaurants. Livingston came up with the idea of collecting money for gift cards to give to local families after learning some restaurants made similar donations to Our Lady of Fatima’s food pantry.

“It was a treat for those families who don’t really get a chance to eat at restaurants,” Livingston said.

As an added touch, festive red lanterns will be strung along with solar-powered lights from lamp posts on the waterfront at Sunset Park throughout the month of February in support of Port Washington’s cultural diversity and its Asian community.

“I thought it would lift the spirits and light up the streets to make [Port Washington] more beautiful,” said Jill Carvajal, who came up with the idea for hanging lanterns along the waterfront after seeing a display in Chinatown in New York City that supported restaurants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

From there, Carvajal sprang her idea on Venezia and another organizer, Bin Hu Laurence, who worked on a campaign with the Chinese American Association to collect PPE gear for the Port Washington Fire Department. As part of the celebration, over 100 lanterns will be installed some time in the first week of February weather-permitting.

Livingston said herself, Carvajal, and Laurence are still hashing plans to include either a wishing tree or wishing well where visitors can write their wishes, possibly on paper or ribbon, and leave them in a tribute to Chinese custom.

It’s an event that the organizers hope will become annual and attract visitors looking for something to brighten up the dark nights of winter while seeking out some Instagrammable moments.

The goal of the fundraiser is to collect roughly $40,000 for about 400 families in need to receive a $100 gift certificate to eat at a local restaurant, but the organizers hope they will surpass that number. Some restaurants have already begun reaching out with plans to donate gift cards to the fundraiser themselves, Venezia said.

So far, $13,000 has been raised, according to Julie Meer Harnick, community chest executive director.

Donations are tax deductible and can be made on GoFundMe, sent by check to the Community Chest with for “For Light & Love" in the subject line and mailed to 382 Main St., Port Washington, NY 11050, or through the Chest’s Facebook fundraiser.