Sayville's Melissa Joan Hart donates to fundraiser for hometown businesses recovering from fire
Sayville-raised Melissa Joan Hart is calling for support of small businesses that were affected by last week's fire on Main Street. Credit: Getty Images / Jesse Grant
Melissa Joan Hart is helping to rebuild her Long Island hometown after last week’s fire seriously damaged its downtown.
The actor said in a social media post that she donated to the Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce’s fundraiser to help affected businesses "get back on their feet hopefully in time for the busy holiday season."
"The town I grew up in Sayville, New York[,] had a devastating fire yesterday and many small businesses suffered big losses," Hart said.
Hart also shared a screenshot of the fundraiser’s description and copied its direct link in her bio, encouraging others to donate as well.
A fire damaged several Sayville Main Street shops Friday evening, affecting a total of five stores, including Boris’ Barber Shop, The Paper Doll Vintage, Cafe Joelle, Sayville Running Company and Hammer & Stain.
Two second-story offices were also damaged.
"I know every small town has their own local community they want to donate to," said Hart, "but I also know a lot of my friends and classmates still follow me and might want to help out our little town."
Eileen Tyznar, head administrator of the Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce, said she is in the process of helping effected businesses temporarily relocate. She launched the Main Street Fire Relief Fund on the chamber website the same night of the fire.
All contributions will go to impacted business owners – many of whom depend upon holiday season purchases, she said.
Tyznar said she did not expect but was “not surprised” by Hart’s donation, as “her family is deeply embedded and ingrained” in the community.
Hart, who first gained fame as a teen in the ‘90s sitcoms "Clarissa Explains It All," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and later success in "Melissa & Joey" from 2010 to 2015, was born in Smithtown and raised in Sayville.
When Tyznar personally wrote to Hart to thank her, Hart responded back.
“She said, ‘It’s just a little something to help get you guys through’,Tyznar said. “’Love Melissa’.”
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