Locals spread holiday cheer to neighbors in need

‘Tis the season for giving! And in Riverhead Town, local people are embodying the spirit of the holidays and giving back to their community.

Here is a sampling of the things locals are doing to give back this holiday season:

Riverhead Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski delivered an estimated 1,000 toys to Roanoke Avenue Elementary School on Monday morning after running his annual 5K in the rain.

Zaleski raised about half of the toys on his own through donations by friends and community members who “sponsor” his run. The other half was donated by the Long Island Moose Classic Car Club, which recently held a toy drive at Fink’s Country Farm in Wading River.

“It’s just amazing,” Roanoke Avenue Elementary School Principal Thomas Payton said of the donation. “This year is the most it’s ever been. And we’re going to spread the wealth with the other Riverhead elementary schools. It’s just this time of year, you see a lot of families that are struggling. And this just helps make this time of season that much better.”

This is the sixth year Zaleski has done the toy drive. “It’s getting bigger every year,” he said.

“Toys are great for children, but I also do it because of my faith,” Zaleski said. “Christmas isn’t always about toys, toys, toys. I love giving. [The school] loves giving…. We bring a lot of smiles to kids in need.”

The Riverhead Rotary Club distributed 200 baskets full of holiday meals on Friday to local families in need in partnership with local houses of worship and food pantries. The Riverhead High School NJROTC pitched in the labor needed to help fill the baskets with turkeys and sides; each family also received a poinsettia centerpiece. 

ShopRite in Riverhead donated complete holiday meals for 16 families, in coordination with the Riverhead Police Benevolent Association, Riverhead Police school resource officers Eric Cohen and Kaley Constantine, and school district social workers. The store filled grocery bags with large frozen turkeys and all the trimmings. The Riverhead PBA distributed the groceries to the families selected by social workers or the SROs Friday afternoon at the high school.

Students at Phillips Avenue Elementary School, Roanoke Avenue Elementary School and Riley Avenue Elementary School received toys in events held this week, the school district said in a press release. The toys were set up in the schools’ gymnasiums and were a surprise to the kids, who were able to select one from the bunch to take home. The giveaway was organized by school district employees and the Copiague-based Promise of Hope Foundation.

The Salvation Army distributed toys and clothes to more than 800 kids on Wednesday as a part of its Angel Tree program, Lt. Esther Togara of the Riverhead Salvation Army said.

Participating families registered children’s Christmas wishes with the Salvation Army, which reaches out to donors — including PSEG Long Island and National Grid — who make their wishes come true by buying toys for the children, Togara said.

“I just want to thank the volunteers, the people, the donors who donated this stuff to the kids and made this day be successful,” Togara said. 

Riverhead High School social worker Debbie Nigrel ran an Angel Tree fundraising and gift donation drive.  “We receive donations of gifts by the RHS staff and community.  The Riverhead High School Cooking Club always makes an extremely generous donation to help purchase clothes and toys for our angels. George Dupree from Living Water Church graciously donated WalMart gift cards for our families. We are beyond grateful and appreciative of all of the continued help and support,” Nigrel said.

Riverhead Building Supply honors the memory of a beloved coworker, Rosemary Densieski, who died in a car accident in 2001 with the activities of a charitable organization founded in her name, Rose’s Care and Share. The organization fundraises to support its charitable giving, including adopting families in need in the Riverhead Central School District. 

Riverhead High School social worker Kathleen Timpone coordinates with Rose’s Care and Share annually to organize a districtwide campaign. “We start identifying the students in October and, hopefully, by Thanksgiving provide sizes, styles, needs and a wish lift to Rose’s Care and Share. This year 50 children will be waking up to an abundance of presents and their families will be joyful, not stressed over money,” Timpone said.

Riverhead Rotary also donated toys and clothes for families in need, coordinated through the Riverhead elementary school teachers and social workers. They dropped off the wrapped gifts at each of the district’s elementary schools. Children got bags filled with toys and clothes; 150 kids received bags.

The Rotary Club donated a total of $25,000 to six local food pantries, as well as to Maureen’s Haven, a Riverhead-based nonprofit that serves homeless people.

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Alek Lewis (Mike Zaleski and Riverhead Rotary holiday dinner boxes) and Denise Civiletti (Riverhead PBA). Photos of other events were provided courtesy of the coordinators or donors.