A vegetable garden is bringing a community together during the pandemic in East Rockaway.

The Bay Park Victory Garden was started by Lou DeVivo. DeVivo had a piece of land that he was going to build a home on, but he could not because of the coronavirus. Instead, DeVivo decided to start a community garden.

The neighborhood responded, and people came to help plant vegetables in the garden.

“I'm so excited to see this garden here, the whole community responded, they helped build this victory garden. We have corn, tomatoes, and lettuce. All of it is free, and it really means so much,” says DeVivo.

Victory gardens date back to World War II – when neighborhoods set up victory gardens to help feed each other.

Neighbors say that is what it is all about - caring for each other during a time of crisis.