For Debi. For Love. For Moms.
A small community project honoring my mom Debi, by helping single moms feel seen, celebrated and supported.
Deb’s day is sponsored by The Nest & other local businesses.
For 5 years, we’ve handed out flowers in Debi’s memory simply to spread kindness through grief.
This year, were taking it one step further.
Our goal is to sponsor 50 bouquets for local single moms, each paired with a small act of care, love and community support.
Our collective efforts will generate $3,255.00 in total value that will help single moms on Long Island.
Selected nominees will receive either a financial gift from our $1,000 fund, $500 of which is a match from The Nest or a donated experience from our local partners, with the collection of gifts totaling $2,255 in value.
Debi loved being a mom more than anything.
Debi was loud, loving and impossible to ignore. She was a single mom who made everyone feel safe, seen and cared for.
When she passed away in 2021, we wanted to keep her love alive in a tangible way.
So every year, we honor her by supporting local single moms with flowers, financial assistance, family experiences, and moments of relief and joy. Because every mom deserves to feel cared for too.
Ways to support Deb’s Day…
We support local single mothers through direct financial assistance and moments of joy because life is short, love doesn't stop here, and this is how we keep her going.
How You Can Help Every contribution carries her legacy forward. 100% of bouquet sponsorships go directly to local single moms.
Sponsor a Bouquet: Honor someone you love; your tribute becomes part of the day.
Nominate a Mom: Help us reach a mom who could use some support.
Partner & Share: Become a community partner or spread the word to someone in need.
Ways to support Deb’s Day
(open June 1-August 1, 2026)
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Sponsor a Bouquet
Every bouquet honors your loved one (name on bouquet tag). 100% goes towards the single moms!
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Nominate a Mom
Nominate a mom who could catch a break or enjoy a fun family experience.
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Become a Deb's Day Partner
Find out how to get involved and help a family have a fun experience!
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Why single moms?
Because I was raised by one.
I watched my mom do everything she could to make sure I had what I needed. I also watched the quiet weight she carried, the financial gymnastics, the constant figuring it out, the never letting me see how heavy it really was.
But what I felt, always, was love. That never wavered. That was the constant.
Usually, when money gets tight, the “extra” things disappear first the outings, the memories, the breathing room. No mom should have to choose between paying a bill and making memories with her kids.
As a social worker, I spent years helping families through systems filled with paperwork, waiting lists, and red tape.
This is different. This is simple. This is care, directly from community to mom.
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Why Flowers?
After my mom passed away, our family was surrounded by funeral flowers.
It was overwhelming in the most beautiful and painful way. And when it was over, we didn’t know what to do with them. They were too beautiful to throw away, and too heavy to keep.
My husband, Steve, suggested we turn them into bouquets and bring them into the community.
So we did.
We handed them out the morning after the funeral.
It was simple, but it helped us breathe again. So every August, on Debi’s birthday, we continue that tradition.
We make bouquets together as a family now with our two daughters helping too and take them out into the world in her honor.
What started as grief became something else: A way to give love forward.
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Why the RV logo?
After she passed, we didn’t know how she’d still show up in our lives.
At the funeral home, Elton John’s “The B*tch Is Back” started playing just as a massive RV pulled into the parking lot.
My mom and Jerry loved camping, and it felt like something we couldn’t ignore.
Since then, RVs have kept appearing in the most unexpected ways.
When I made the RV the symbol of Deb’s Day, two RVs passed me immediately afterward.
That’s Deb.
Still here.
Still loud.
Still making us laugh.
Debi was the kind of person who could turn a stranger into a friend in minutes.
She laughed loudly, hugged tightly, loved deeply, and lived fully in every room she walked into.
She was one of those rare people who could talk to anyone. She was a waitress for most of her life, and she had this gift of turning strangers into friends within minutes.
She didn’t just make conversation…she made people feel seen. Like they mattered.
And her laugh…God, her laugh. Loud, full, impossible to ignore. It didn’t just fill a room, it changed it. If she started laughing, everyone else did too.
Her hugs were the same way. She would wrap you up, rock you back and forth, kiss you even when you tried to dodge it, and she was never the first one to let go. Ever.
She loved simple, very “her” things → tea with way too much sugar, a Coca-Cola, Marlboro Reds, a seafood dinner and a life where she was always in motion, always talking, always connected to people.
She was loud, funny, hardworking, and deeply loved. And if you knew her, you didn’t forget her.
2026 Gifted Experiences by our local partners on Long Island ($2,255 value)
Family Dinner
Family dinner at Roadtrip in Bay Shore. This $200 experience invites a local family to enjoy a memorable night out, thanks to our sponsor, Melissa Zelli, Esq.
Family fun night out at Birdies
A $50 gift card towards a fun night out for a mom and her children, gifted by owner Ashley Kost.
Massage & Sauna at Revival
A $200 experience dedicated to rest and renewal in East Setauket, sponsored by Elizabeth & Rob Ali.
A gift for mom from the Village
A $60 embrodied tote bag, thoughtfully donated by Village in Sayville, the owner Ashley Kost.
A $250 experience covering the 2026-2027 season fees for children in the household that are elementary aged and live in either Center or East Moriches Elementary , gifted by Melissa Zelli, Esq.
Cheerleading Season Fees for Center Moriches SD
Football Season Fees for Center Moriches SD
A $300 experience covering the 2026-2027 season fees for children in the household that are elementary aged and live in either Center or East Moriches Elementary , gifted by Melissa Zelli, Esq.
Professional Resume Review
A $175 experience including a 60-minute session with Marianne Matarese to refresh and refine your career path.
Gift Cards
A collective gift of $500 from The Nest plus all additional community donations to directly support local moms.
Mom’s night out at The Bookstore
Gifted by Melissa Zelli, Esq., this mom will enjoy a $50 gift card and a choice of a book from the Book Store in Patchogue.
Tattoo & Deb’s Day Logo
$200 towards a custom tattoo by Alissa at Black Book Tattoo in Huntington. Special thanks to Alissa for bringing the Deb’s Day vision to life & creating the Deb’s Day Logo ($250 value).
Bri-utiful Blooms
50 floral bouquets valued at $500 thoughtfully sponsored by Briana, owner of Bri-utiful Blooms in Ronkonkoma.
Trov Creative Co.
Special thanks to Hannah Lyons of Trov Creative Co. Web Design who created the Deb’s Day Bouquet tags ($250.00 value).
FAQs
Is my donation tax deductible?
No. The Nest is a private practice, not a 501(c)(3) non-profit (yet). We are a community outreach effort. 100% of the money raised goes directly to the moms, and The Nest covers the matching funds and administrative costs.
Can I nominate myself?
We prefer nominations to come from a friend, family member, or neighbor who can speak to why you need a break. We believe in the power of the community looking out for one another.
What is a ‘gift experience’?
Bills are a reality, but fun is a necessity. Our community partners donate services…think wellness treatments, or family outings—so moms can make memories without the financial stress.
Because we value privacy, we contact winners directly and privately by August 15. We do not post winners' names publicly unless they explicitly ask us to share their story.
How will I know if my nominee was selected?
What happens if the money isn't picked up?
Life happens. However, if the winnings aren't claimed or picked up by August 22 (or within one week of contact), we redistribute the funds to the next mom on our list. We want to make sure the help gets used.
Can I sponsor more than one bouquet?
Absolutely. Each sponsorship adds another name to our "Honor Wall" tags at the harbor and puts more money into the fund for the moms.
Can I attend the flower hand-out?
Yes, please do. While this is a deeply personal day for our family, we have decided to open the handout to the community this year. Please know that because this is an intimate family event, we are never quite sure how we will feel on the day of—we appreciate you holding space for us if we are a little quieter than usual.
When & where is this happening?
We will be in Port Jefferson on August 22. With two little kids in tow, our start time is TBD, but we are planning for the morning. Please watch our social media for final timing updates. In case of rain, we will shift to our rain date of August 23.
Ways to support Deb’s Day
(open June 1-August 1, 2026)