‘Stuff the Truck’ at Main Road Biscuit Co.

On Sunday, Nov. 30, Main Road Biscuit Co., located at 1601 Main Road in Jamesport, encourages brunch-goers to bring with them canned goods, dry foods like cereal and oatmeal, and/or unopened packaged toiletries to donate to the community. Those who’d like to participate can drop their items in the bins of the antique truck located behind the restaurant. All items will go to Mattituck High School’s food pantry.

For more information, visit Main Road Biscuit Co.’s Instagram @mainroadbiscuitco.

Kait’s Angels Gift Card & Toy Drive

Kait’s Angels is holding their annual Gift Card & Toy Drive through Saturday, Dec. 6. Be an angel this Christmas and help local kids enjoy the holiday season. The organization is collecting new, unwrapped toys and gift cards for kids across the North Fork and in Riverhead. 

Donations can be dropped off before the cutoff date at any of the five following locations: Billy’s by the Bay, 2530 Manhanset Ave., Greenport; Hair Solutions, Suite J, 887 Old Country Road, Riverhead; East End Bagel Café, 46519 County Road 48, Southold; St. John Paul II Regional School, 515 Marcy Ave., Riverhead; and Dr. Doroski’s office,887 Old Country Road, Riverhead.

For more information, visit kaitsangels.org. 

Orient Beach State Park coat and non-perishables drive

The annual Holiday Tree Lighting at Orient Beach State Park will be held Friday, Dec. 5, at 4 p.m. All are welcome to enjoy music, snacks and hot cocoa prior to the tree-lighting led by Santa Claus at 5 p.m. While the event will include festivities aplenty, those who come are also encouraged to give back to their community by bringing gently used coats and canned food items. Any donations are welcome and appreciated. 

For more information, visit the park’s event site here. 

Cutchogue Fire Department’s ‘Stuff the Sleigh’ 5K Race and Walk

On Sunday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Cutchogue Fire Department will host their 13th Stuff The Sleigh 5K Race and Walk. The race raises funds for fire department’s scholarship fund and other charities supported by CFD. A portion of the proceeds will also go to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, The Firefighter Cancer Support Network and the Center for Advocacy, Support and Transformation.

The children’s fun run will kick off the morning’s festivities at 9:15 a.m., in which they run a shortened race to the firehouse, met by Santa at the finish line. The race proper will begin at 10 a.m. in front of the firehouse and follows a scenic 5K course within New Suffolk. Once the race ends back at the firehouse, a reception complete with awards, clam chowder and other refreshments will take place. 

The race also serves as a toy drive, and all participants are asked to bring a new toy to “Stuff the Sleigh” for families in need during the holiday season. Cutchogue Fire Department hopes to gather hundreds of gifts by the end of the race. Children who take part in the fun run are asked to bring donations of two non-perishable food items.

To sign up for the race, click here. For more information regarding the race, click here. 

Twin Fork Beer Co. and Riverhead Rotary food drive

For a limited time, patrons of Twin Fork Beer Co., located at 807 Raynor Ave., Riverhead, can bring in nonperishables and get a free beer. This food drive benefits Open Arms, Church of the Harvest and St. John’s Parish food pantries.

For more information, call Twin Fork Beer Co. at 631-209-4233 or visit Riverhead Rotary’s website at riverheadrotary.org.

CAST’s Toy Drive

Through Monday, Dec. 15, the Center for Advocacy, Support and Transformation is hosting their Holiday Toy Drive. They ask that community members donate new and unwrapped toys for children of all ages at the physical sites below, or ship them directly to CAST, 53930 Main St., Southold, NY 11971, attn: TOYS. 

Cutchogue drop off locations include: 

• Cutchogue Barths Pharmacy, 28195 Main Road
• Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library, 27550 Main Road
• Cutchogue Presbyterian Church, 27245 Main Road
• M&T Bank, 31525 Main Road
• Unit 2 Go, 50 Commerce Road

Greenport drop off locations include: 

• Blue Duck Bakery, 130 Front St.
• Congregation Tifereth Israel, 519 Fourth St.
• DIME Community Bank, 218 Front St.
• Floyd Memorial Library, 539 First St.
• Goldsmith’s Toy Store, 128 Main St.
• Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., 234 Carpenter St.
• Holy Trinity Church, 768 Main St.
• M&T Bank, 74825 Main Road 
• Peconic Landing, 1500 Brecknock Road

Mattituck drop off locations include: 

• Blue Sage Spa, 11700 Main Road
• CVS Pharmacy, 9870 Main Road 
• DIME Community Bank, 10900 Main Road
• Mattituck-Laurel Library, 13900 Main Road 
• Starbucks, 10095 Main Road
• Strong’s Marine Mattituck Bay, 2400 Camp Mineola Road
• Strong’s Water Club, 2255 Wickham Ave. 
• Strong’s Yacht Center, 5780 West Mill Road
• Total Dental Care, 7905 Main Road
• Zeifman Orthodontics, 50 Love Lane 

Orient or East Marion drop off locations include:

• Angel’s Country Store, 8955 Main Road, East Marion
• Orient Congregational Church, 23045 Main Road
• Orient Country Store, 930 Village Lane

Shelter Island drop off locations include:

• Shelter Island Historical Society, 16 South Ferry Road
• Shelter Island Library, 37 North Ferry Road 
• Shelter Island School District 
• Shelter Island Town Hall, 38 North Ferry Road

Southold and Peconic drop off locations include: 

• Bank of America, 53300 Main Road
• Blue Duck Bakery, 56275 Route 25
• CAST, 53930 Main Road
• DIME Community Bank, 54970 Main Road
• First Presbyterian Church, 53100 Main Road
• The Giving Room, 56215 Main Road
• Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., 42155 Main Road, Peconic
• Mullen Motors, 55980 Route 25
• Port of Egypt Marine, 62300 Main Road
• Southold ACE Hardware, 54795 Route 25
• Southold Free Library, 53705 Main Road
• Underground Training, 53345 Main Road

Finally, Riverhead’s drop off location is RGNY, 6025 Sound Ave. 

CAST is also accepting gift cards and monetary donations, which can be mailed to CAST, P.O. Box 1566, Southold, NY 11971. 

For more information, visit castnorthfork.org or call 631-477-1717. 

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The school’s buddy bench — a designated spot where students can sit when they’re feeling lonely or want to make new friends — was unveiled Tuesday, Oct. 28, courtesy of Kait’s Angels, a Riverhead-based nonprofit.

The entire fifth- and sixth-grade student body filled the football field bleachers for the ceremony, with members of the newly formed student council wearing pink in support. Student Taya Fusco cut the ribbon.

“This bench is to encourage you to be kind and make friends,” said director Lisa Garcia. “If you’re having a bad day, feeling sad or lonely, take a seat on the bench and someone will join you, make you smile and brighten your day. The Kaitlyn Doorhy way.”

Kait’s Angels was founded by Darla Doorhy a decade ago after her 20-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn, was struck by a car and killed on Aug. 22, 2014, while attending Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. The foundation supports community members facing medical challenges, financial struggles and unexpected hardships through fundraising events and direct assistance.

A former Mattituck Strawberry Queen known for her caring heart, Kaitlyn inspired the bench’s mission to encourage children to be good friends, stand up against bullying and share kindness.

“It’s a little hard for us to talk about our daughter in heaven, but we’re so happy that 800-plus students are here today to enjoy Kaitlyn Doorhy’s buddy bench,” said Darla Doorhy, with her husband, Joe, beside her. “This is the biggest buddy bench dedication we have done in 10 years.”

At the Pulaski Street School, counselor Jen Boese said she and fellow counselor Michelle Chiarulli noticed students didn’t have anywhere to sit during recess at the beginning of the school year. They connected with Kait’s Angels to change that.

“I really want to thank this amazing organization, Kait’s Angels, for giving back to our community,” Ms. Boese said. “We are Riverhead strong. We have so much to offer, and we really appreciate you guys being here today.”

The school’s chorus performed “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars — a fitting anthem for the bench’s mission of friendship and kindness.

The new bench now sits beneath a brown-and-orange-tipped tree near the playground — a quiet place to rest, reflect or find a friend.

“That’s where you can find it when you’re having a good day, when you’re having a bad day, or you see someone that needs a friend,” said principal Stacy Woodhull.

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The family has transformed their personal loss into a force for good through their North Fork nonprofit, Kait’s Angels. For the past decade, the organization has uplifted the entire community by supporting individuals facing medical challenges, financial struggles and unexpected hardships. The nonprofit provides assistance in many forms — ranging from financial relief and transportation to meals and emotional support. Its mission is to foster a caring, inclusive environment where every member of the community feels valued, supported and empowered. Founded to honor Kaitlyn’s spirit of compassion and dedication to others, Kait’s Angels continues to carry her legacy forward.

“We help people who are in need,” said Ms. Doorhy. “We just help any person in need in the community. We help from Wading River to Shelter Island.”

The charity holds several events throughout the year, and its mission will continue on Saturday, Sept. 13, with its annual community yard sale. This year’s installment will once again be held at the Doorhy residence, 1125 Ole Jule Lane in Mattituck, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Each year, the yard sale is held in honor of or has the proceeds benefit a North Fork resident or family. This year, the community and the nonprofit will come together in honor of Marta Thomas of Southold. Ms. Thomas lost her battle with glioblastoma in April at age 45. She was a mother, daughter and friend, and the proceeds from the yard sale will go toward helping her family.

“We’d like to help that family because they’re in desperate need of a helping hand,” said Ms. Doorhy. “Her children are in need, [and] so is her husband.”

People can drop off donations for the yard sale at the Doorhy residence on Friday, Sept. 12, from 4 to 6 p.m. Anything gently used, such as clothing and kitchenware, can be dropped off, except for large items like beds, tables, computers and televisions, or baby items due to recalls. 

During the yard sale this year, starting at noon for the last hour, it’s “all you can carry” for $20. During this time, people can take all they want for that fixed price, so long as it all fits in their arms. 

Throughout the years, the community support has never wavered and, frankly, has grown, which Ms. Doorhy calls “amazing.”

“The support we get from the community is overwhelming,” she said.

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