Ways to Support Local Businesses on Long Island During the Pandemic

Get your weekly delivery of farm fresh goods from Goodale Farms. Photo courtesy of the farm

With the shift to contactless pickup and delivery options for shopping, supplies, and activities, local businesses across Long Island have had to get creative to stay afloat. Many small businesses have maintained social-distancing rules to keep serving their communities, and we've rounded up a bunch of ways to support their efforts to keep their doors open until the world reopens again.

From supporting local toy stores and bookstores to patronizing local restaurants, like those we profiled for their Mother's Day brunch menus, there are lots of ways to shop small. We recommend ordering directly from local businesses instead of third-party services whenever possible, and even if you don't need goods or services at the moment, consider pitching in by purchasing a gift card for future use. Every little bit helps a struggling small business right now.

And while you're showing your support for the businesses you love, we hope you'll count Mommy Poppins and our small business partners among them. You can support Mommy Poppins by sharing articles you find useful with friends or on your social media channels, checking out our directory of virtual classes, camps, and birthday parties and telling businesses you found them through Mommy Poppins. Also, as part of our effort to keep our local parent writers and this website afloat and support some of our favorite family businesses, we've created Poppins@Home, a platform for small businesses to share free and low-cost online classes and birthday parties with kids all over the country. Please consider trying a few of these fun, affordable, and creative classes—and spreading the word among your friends—as yet another way to support, uplift, and get through these challenging times together!

Long Island Restaurants Offering Take Out or Delivery for Mother's Day

Skip the kitchen on Mother's Day and enjoy a three-course meal from Bella Vie. .

If there's one day a year that Chef Mom deserves to take off, it's Mother's Day. During a quarantine, even more so! These Long Island eateries are gearing up for Mother's Day specials that offer contactless curbside take out or delivery.

For other family dining options when we're back up and running, see our list of Long Island restaurants where kids can eat free; dining destinations that offer entertainment for kids; and with warmer weather coming, great places to dine outdoors with children.

At publication time, these restaurants are offering take-out service for Mother's Day. Since the COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving, please confirm with the restaurant directly to be sure.

Long Island Food Delivery Services When There Are No Peapod Slots Available

With the online grocery marketplace, Mercado, get your favorite local foods  delivered to you. Photo courtesy of Mercado

As the Coronavirus pandemic heads into its umpteenth week, we realize the cupboards might be getting bare. With the advised #StayAtHome health initiative aimed at curtailing new cases of the virus, now more than ever folks are trying to limit trips to the grocery store. Even if you do venture out, Long Islanders are reporting a lack of social distancing in aisles, bare dairy shelves, scarce meat options and don't get me started on the toilet paper situation. My mother-in-law ordered hers online from Australia! I traded produce for a roll.

Peapod and Amazon Fresh have been go-to's for many Long Islanders, but trying to get a delivery slot seems to be a full-time job. We found several services and/or companies offering stoop delivery or contact-less curbside pick up. If your favorite neighborhood shop isn't on the list try giving them a call, many shops are more than willing to accommodate patrons during these uncertain times.

Long Island Restaurants Offering Take Out or Delivery for Easter or Passover Meals

Morton's Steakhouse is offering an Easter dinner for two or a steak dinner kit.

All dressed up with nowhere to go for Easter or Passover this year? Social distancing may mean that large family gatherings will be put on hold for Easter brunch and Passover seders this year, but Long Island families can still enjoy a delicious holiday meal from a variety of local restaurants at home. Restaurants are shifting gears for the spring holidays, offering contact-less options for Passover and Easter meals across Long Island. Order ahead and pick up outside or opt for a stoop delivery. Some establishments are even including gifts!

For other family dining options when we're back up and running, see our list of Long Island restaurants where kids can eat free; dining destinations that offer entertainment for kids; and with warmer weather coming, great places to dine outdoors with children.

What’s open in coronavirus shutdown: parks, beaches, hikes you can do while social distancing

Take a walk through the pristine and remote Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy of the refuge

Advised social distancing plus vast closures across Long Island has us getting creative here at Mommy Poppins. Whether it's an open trail hike or other outdoor experience, we've rounded up some activities if you're cooped up or heading to open space. 

Visit our Coronavirus Guide for Parents, for tons of resources and Boredom Busters to keep the kids busy. We've got educational science experiments, fun exercise games, remote learning resources like these mostly free online learning resources, websites and apps for kids, and more.

For more information on Coronavirus updates from around New York State, click here to read what parents should know.

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Long Island Coronavirus Closings: School Closings, Museums, Libraries, Playspaces and More

While here at Mommy Poppins we pride ourselves in keeping a finger on the pulse of Long Island's event and activity scene, the Coronavirus has forced us to swim in the opposite direction of these unchartered waters. To help keep you in the know, we have created a running list of local museums, venues, attractions that are temporarily closed due to the Coronavirus. Please review our list and reach out if we have missed any.

Visit our Coronavirus Guide for Parents, for tons of resources and Boredom Busters to keep the kids busy. We've got educational science experiments, fun exercise games, remote learning resources like FREE online coding classes for kids, and more.

For more information on Coronavirus updates from around New York State, click here to read what parents should know.

Master Obstacles at Real Life Ninja Academy

The Real Life Ninja Academy isn't a gym, and it isn't an obstacle course facility. It's a fully instructional Real Life Ninja Warrior training gym for kids and adults.

At Real Life Ninja Academy in Freeport, swinging from the ceiling and climbing walls is very much encouraged. Co-owned by 'American Ninja Warrior' Champion Drew Drechsel, the course mimics the television show's obstacles, including two warped walls and the red, horn-blaring finish buttons.

For more active fun on Long Island, check out our guide to play gyms and sports centers.

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