Astoria Restoration Association

Hi Everyone, 

I'm Vivian. I have been born and raised in Astoria, NY. I have very fond memories of this neighborhood. I have a local small business and 2020 has been exceptionally hard for all small businesses everywhere.  This fundraiser is about our lovely community.  As a child, during the winter holidays, Astoria was adorned with holiday lights up and down all of our streets and music was played under the train and by pizza palace on Ditmars for weeks leading up to the holidays. The streets were packed with shoppers whether it was getting meat from the local butcher or doing holiday gift shopping, it was  a beautiful sight. 

Every year these lights went up without hesitation. To be honest, I thought it was a city thing. I never knew until 2 years ago that those lights went up because volunteers would go from store to store to get donations to pay the light company to put them up. Mr. George Alexiou and Mr. George Delis have been doing this for years.  So last year it was already one week into December and there were no lights. So I called George Alexiou to ask what happened. And he said it has been very difficult to collect the funds from the local businesses.  This was very upsetting to me because I never remembered a year where Astoria wasn't festive for the holidays, so I asked to help out. 

With their guidance and support Mr. Delis and I went around together trying to raise funds to get the lights up as quick as possible. With some very generous donations from Pizza palace, Kyklades, Lefkos Pirgos, Crescent Apothecary, Mediterranean, Stamatis, Double G pharmacy, Thirsty Koala, Zorbas, Cassinelli, Crown Chemists, Alexiou Realty, Albas pizza, Marthas bakery, Peter Vallone, Ditmars flowers, HCN Design Architects, Watawa, Souvlaki lady, Thessaloniki jewelers, Brass owl and yours truly, Lavender Label, we were able to get whatever lights were left over. They weren't the fancy ones but they were still up lifting. 

The lights, depending on what we choose can run from 15k-20k which would include permits and music. That's right guys, it's not cheap.  But if every business that ran along Ditmars blvd. 23rd avenue from 29th streets to 38th Streets and under 31st Street between Ditmars and 23rd we could easily raise these funds. After the shut down, so many businesses were hit hard so this year George Delis and I are making our rounds to the businesses but we are also setting this go fund me up so that any individual can donate. If you can't please share this.  If you know a business please bring it to their attention. Only together we can accomplish this goal.

The holidays are a time of light heartedness, peace, family and friends. And this year we need this more than any other year. Astoria is a strong and beautifully diverse community and I know we can do this.

I wish you all good health, happiness, peace in your hearts and peace in our world. Thank you.

More information about Astoria Restoration Association: Neighborhood Preservation Through Economic Development & Assistance To Astoria Residents