Briermere Farms

4414 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-722-3931 

The standard-bearer. The traffic stopper. The lines of cars prove that people truly do come from east and west for a chance to take home a Briermere Farms pie. Apple, pumpkin and pecan are late-fall favorites.  

Schmitt’s

3355 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-983-6565

“Holy Schmitt’s” isn’t a reaction reserved for the fourth-generation family farm’s next-level horseradish. Guests will say the same (or similar) about the caramel apple nut pie made with fruit fresh-picked from Schmitt’s orchard. Pre-order pies by phone or at the farm stand. 

Lombardi’s Love Lane Market

170 Love Lane, Mattituck, 631-298-9500

Local apple, pumpkin and pecan pies are among the options. But the most popular choice, the “fruit of the forest,” takes the fork in the road (or on the table) less traveled. It’s a sweet-meets-tangy mix of berries, pear and apples.

The Cooperage Inn

2218 Sound Ave., Baiting Hollow, 631-727-8994

Cooperage Inn is known for its pot pies, but don’t sleep on the baked desserts. Key lime, coconut cream and pumpkin cream are some of the crowd pleasers, and you can grab a pot pie while you’re at it. Pre-order and pick up at Cooperage and its sister store, NoFo Pot Pies (11160 Main Road, Mattituck, 631-548-7437), on Thanksgiving. 

See more on northforker.com

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He went to his car and returned with a paper bag full of groceries  — canned green beans, boxes of pasta and various soups. What he brought filled the pantry up again.

Numerous small curbside pantries are scattered across the North Fork where people can drop off food items for others in need, no questions asked. The notices on many of them say the same thing: “Take what you need, leave what you can.”

These pantries reflect a community that cares for the well-being of others. We are better because of this. Not long after the man replenished  the pantry by the library, an older woman pulled up, looked over what was available and took what she needed. It is no exaggeration to say her life, and perhaps her family’s, will be better this Thanksgiving because of this one pantry.

Across the North Fork, many places also offer full meals to those in need. The Bread and More soup kitchen at First Congregational Church of Riverhead feeds those in need three nights a week.

A reporter who visited the kitchen a few weeks ago found a handful of volunteers preparing a very good dinner for dozens of people waiting outside to enter — including a number of young children.

On Thanksgiving, as it has done for years, Church of the Harvest in Riverhead will also offer a full dinner to anyone who walks in. Meals will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A reporter who volunteered there at a previous Thanksgiving found the people who came were mostly senior citizens, day workers and their families, all grateful to have a great meal.

In Southold, the Center for Advocacy, Support and Transformation has been supporting low-income families and individuals since 1965 with not only a food pantry, but  emergency assistance and educational programs as well. As of 2022, CAST has served 900 unique families, comprising 2,265 individuals. They included 864 children and 124 seniors. 

Just three years ago, the Maureen’s Haven emergency overnight winter shelter program offered about 3,400 beds at various locations across the East End. But the need has surged, and last winter  the program provided 6,400 beds in the five East End towns. 

Knowing seniors and children will be fed, knowing people who need a place to sleep on a cold night can find one, speaks volumes about the core of good people who live in our communities. We are hugely grateful to them. They make all of us better. 

They also provide a wonderful, hopeful counterpoint to the horrific events that now seem to occur every day. On Thanksgiving, a day of gratitude , we choose to focus on the good people.

The post Editorial: Giving thanks to those helping others this holiday appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

More than 450 turkeys and trimmings were distributed, eclipsing last year’s total of 295.

“We’re able to not only provide a turkey, but some of those additional items that many members of our community enjoy on Thanksgiving Day,” Sheriff Toulon said.

The giveaway was held at the sheriff’s Transition and Reentry Team (S.T.A.R.T.) Resource center offices.

The sheriff’s office works with several organizations, such as Spin the Yard, Empowerment Collaborative of Long Island/VIBES, Long Island Cares, Harbor Church, Salvation Army and more, to make the giveaway possible.

“We’ve had many different services providers, many volunteers that have donated turkeys and that’s why we’re actually able to double the amount that we had last year,” Sheriff Toulon said.

The packages given out Tuesday also included corn flakes, rice, corn, cranberry sauce, brownie mix, juice and some of the bags even contained Vitamin C supplements.

Baskets were distributed to preselected families who drove through the START resource center between 10 a.m. and noon to collect their Thanksgiving dinner.

According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, the cost of groceries has risen 13% and the demand on food banks has risen. The preselected families in need of holiday meal help were identified by the START Center and their partner nonprofit services agencies to guarantee that they could receive a free Thanksgiving meal without worry of a shortage and to combat demand, the press release said.

Whatever was left over was donated to various community groups, Sheriff Toulon said.

“I’m very proud of my staff who have really helped coordinate this and really make sure that we’re able to give back to our community,” he said.

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