All Island Transportation brings cheer to Ronald McDonald House

Noah Manskar
From left: Mineola Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira, village Mayor Scott Strauss and Larry Blessinger, co-president of All Island Transportation, with one of the company’s three holiday-themed taxis. (Photo courtesy of the Village of Mineola)

A Nassau County taxi company is bringing some holiday cheer to the streets — and the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island.

All Island Transportation is giving $1 from every cab fare to the New Hyde Park-based home for families of severely ill children getting treatment in hospitals.

The Franklin Square-based cab company has also given three of its cabs a festive holiday paint job complete with Christmas lights and the Ronald McDonald House logo to raise awareness for the charity effort. One of those cars is based in Mineola.

It’s a way for All Island to continue its three-year partnership with the Ronald McDonald House, an organization that does important work for so many families, said Marianne Blessinger, the company’s co-president.

“Personally it affects me because I realize how lucky I am, and in an indirect way it’s a way for me to give back to families that are not so lucky,” Blessinger said.

The promotion started Nov. 23 and runs through the end of the year. Blessinger is uncertain how much it has raised so far, but she said she hopes it will be successful enough to become an “annual tradition.”

The funds will help supplement the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island’s donations in December, its biggest month of the year for giving, said Matt Campo, the organization’s president. The house also has charitable partnerships with Walgreens and Geico, Campo said.

But a little bit can go a long way — 25 cab rides cover the $25 cost of hosting a family at the house for a night, said Carol McBride, the house manager.

“What we hope is a partnership like this and the visibility that it has gives other people in our community the same idea, to perhaps consider approaching us, consider partnering with us to raise money and raise awareness,” Campo said.

Since 2013, All Island has offered free cab rides to hospitals, doctors appointments, pharmacies, airports and other places to any family staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, which has 42 bedrooms and hosts 35 to 38 families at a time, Campo said.

The house offers its own transportation service during the day, but it’s a relief for families to have a free ride any time, McBride said.

“It’s a huge plus for them, and knowing that they can go to their appointments and do the things that they need to do without any restraints … that’s a big impact,” McBride said.

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