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Community Corner

Camp Bulldog's 'Giant BBQ' Feeds Thousands in South Lindy

With the help of The BBQ Brethren, organizers of the Camp Bulldog volunteer effort on South Wellwood Avenue coordinate a day of hot food and neighborly support to displaced residents and Sandy victims.

What’s a BBQ?

Camp Bulldog brought a new definition to that word this weekend, dishing out thousands of hotdogs and hamburgers, untold non-perishable foods and supplies, and a healthy dose of neighborly hugs and smile and tears to residents of Lindenhurst battling back from the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

“We started small the week after the hurricane,” said Camp Bulldog Co-Founder Robin DiGiacomo on Saturday, as dusk settled down on South Lindenhurst and the last of thousands plates of hot food was being served by several of dozens of local volunteers who'd come down to help.

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“We set up a table, and people who want to help have found us. I didn’t think it would turn into this.," she said.

Making It Happen
The barbecue was made possible through the work of The BBQ Brethren, a group which has been out in force on Long Island’s South Shore in recent weeks supporting communities.

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“We did this in Babylon Village two weeks ago, and in Long Beach, too” said Phil Rizzardi of The BBQ Bethren.

“So many of the South Shore communities were hit bad, and when we heard about the situation here in Lindenhurst, we were happy to come,” he said.

Lindenhurst native Alix Marchetti contacted the group about Sandy-ravaged Lindenhurst.

Camp Bulldog
Organized by Robin and her husband Morris, Camp Bulldog has grown from a little table with supplies gathered by the pair to a wide networks of grassroots volunteers who've collected to help those in Lindenhurst whose lives have been the most severely disrupted by Sandy - the worst Autumn storm to hit the region in 75 years.

Located at 722 South Wellwood Avenue at the site of the old Wellwood Grille, Camp Bulldog has become a kind of clearinghouse for the distribution of food, clothing and clean-up supplies, recovery information, and perhaps most importantly a sense of the widespread community support which has welled up locally and beyond for the displaced residents of the area South of Montauk Highway.

On November 17 the camp turned from a clearinghouse to a community party, held in the driveway of Surfside 3 next door.

There were dozens of residents of Lindenhurst and well-wishers from beyond who came to lend a hand. Cub Scouts from Nesconset . A Fire Department from Lake Placid. Naval Sea Cadets. Volunteers with hammers and crowbars from Georgia and North Carolina, ready to help tear out damaged houses and reconstitute them.

Lisa came looking for clothing, but jumped in to help with distribution. Katie, a local DJ, set up shop and spun tunes all day, and her father came up from Delaware with a carload of donations in support of the camp.

Kim, a resident of Commack, heard about the effort and showed up with her daughters Sami and Carly.

“I work as a teacher with one of the organizers,” she said. “We were inconvenienced in Commack, but this is devastation. I wanted to volunteer, and also wanted to show my children what it means to help other people.”

Food in Force
And what Sami and Carly saw was more than a little impressive.

The BBQ Brethren armed with smokers, grills, pit barrel cookers and assorted grillware. A seemingly endless line of volunteers doling out heaping plates of pulled pork or sliced meats, served with mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry and gravy. More than 1,000 hotdogs and hamburgers served in the first hour.

“They came prepared for 6,000 and ran out,” said Morris DiGiacomo. “We had to send out for another $500 worth of meals.”

A particularly successful day in an effort Robin and Morris DiGiacomo said will continue out into the future.

If people would like to make a donation to Camp Bulldog, volunteer or learn more about their activities, then visit the website at www.helplindy.com.

 

Latest Coverage:

  • Hurricane Sandy Long Island 
  • The Latest Sandy Updates
  • The DiGiacomos and the Origins of Camp Bulldog
  • Camp Bulldog Moves Down to Surfside 3

 

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