MASSAPEQUA, NY — The family of Det. Jonathan Diller is just starting the grieving process a week after he was killed on duty making a traffic stop in Queens.
The funeral brought out thousands of NYPD police officers lining many blocks. Diller was a member of the department since 2021.
While the streets of Merrick Road are quiet now, the fundraising is not.
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A group of neighboring small businesses in Massapequa are offering a raffle for a prize basket. Actually, there were so many items donated among American Beauty, Bridal Reflections, Coffee Grind and the Sweet Simplicity boutique, the grand prize winner takes home two baskets.
The family-run Bridal Reflections celebrated its 50th year in 2023.
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“We found out pretty soon after; we realized she was our bride,” Owner RoseLynn Fiumara told Patch. “Not that we wouldn’t have wanted to do anything, anyway, but even more so.”
Fiumara, of Long Beach, spearheaded the fundraising effort by contacting the other businesses.
“I figured if we pooled our resources together, we could do more together,” she said. “We decided a basket might be a little more unique.”
The baskets are on display at the Coffee Grind. A $10 raffle ticket, purchased by Venmo, gets the customer a shot at the double basket. The value is approximately $2,000 in merchandise and $950 in gift cards.
A designer bag is now being handed out as a second prize and Fiumara said people can expect other “surprises” as more items are donated.
All money raised goes to Diller’s widow, Stephanie.
Since starting the fundraiser, they have gotten $7,000. People can buy a raffle until the April 14 drawing, which will be shown online.
Fiumara is hopeful they can raise at least $10,000 for Diller’s widow and one-year-old son.
“I know she’s gotten a lot from all over the community, all over different parts of Long Island and New York,” she said. “It’s not going to bring him back, but whatever can be done makes us feel a little bit better,” Fiumara said.
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For her, Fiumara didn’t want to sit idly by as a Massapequa/Massapequa Park was mourning.
“It was overwhelming,” she said.
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