Outdoor dining has been the lifeblood of many Long Island restaurants throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and there's a new push to keep it going even though it's getting cooler.

With indoor dining limited to 50% capacity, some communities such as Smithtown are extending outdoor dining permits until the end of the year.

Organizations like the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce are using grants from PSEG Long Island to purchase outdoor heaters for restaurants to help them make ends meet, and to keep customers comfortable in those outdoor tents.

For some restaurants, the heaters are making a difference during challenging times. Matthew Acerno, of Ciro's Italian Restaurant, is hoping for another mild winter.

“We're going to implement the heaters. We're going to do the best we can and if they're going to want to wear a coat, they're going to have to," he told News 12.