January 4, 2023 North Babylon

Successful Donation Drive

On Monday, December 19, 2022, Noelle Lambert and The Bryn Elliott Team concluded their Holiday Donation Drive, which ran for four weeks and had drop-off locations throughout Long Island. The drive brought in countless donations, all of which were given to a local non-profit organization, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH).

“It was such a great experience and people didn’t hold back,” said Noelle Lambert, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson with Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “I received calls, texts and emails from people who heard of the drive and wanted to donate, many of which ended up giving so much that they couldn’t bring it all into a drop-off location in one trip. Although it’s a very sad reality that many individuals are experiencing homelessness and other hardships right here on Long Island, it was really refreshing to see our community come together and do something about it.”

The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless strives to end homelessness on Long Island, and to alleviate the issues associated with homelessness and poverty for homeless and at risk persons in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The organization’s distribution center where the donations were brought is located at 600 Albany Avenue in Amityville,

and is also known as their boutique. People in need can make an appointment to come to the boutique and leave with clothes and other items, such as non perishable food and personal care products for free. LICH is here to work directly with people in need, as well as with case managers, shelter staff members, school employees, church members and the like who are helping these individuals.

”This organization does so much good and it was a pleasure to contribute towards their important mission,” said Bryn Elliott, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “So many people have clothing and miscellaneous items that they aren’t using, while others are in real need; it’s just a matter of coordinating a collection. However, it’s clear that the holiday spirit helped our drive quite a bit. I want to express how thankful we are to all who donated, as well as for the businesses that allowed us to use their locations for the drive, which includes USA Auto Body in East Patchogue, The Fish Store in Bayport, Long Island Media Group in

Farmingdale and Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Smithtown and Farmingville.”

“We are so very grateful for this drive that Noelle and The Bryn Elliott Team put together,” said Bailey Riekkinen, Community Engagement Specialist at LICH.

“The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless will continue to advocate and serve until we achieve our mission of ending homelessness on Long Island. In 2022, we referred over 700 households for permanent housing through Coordinated Entry, a system that ensures the most vulnerable Long Islanders are prioritized for permanent, affordable housing.

Affordable housing is scarce on Long Island, and we are consistently working hard at connecting Long Island’s most vulnerable to the available resources. Additionally, we received and distributed over 10,000 pounds of food and toiletries along with countless clothing items to locals that are homeless and at-risk on the streets and in shelters through our boutique and pantry.”

Together we can make a true difference in our community.

If you would like more information about starting a donation drive with the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, please contact Bailey at 631.464.4314 x125. For more information about LICH and all they offer, visit www. addressthehomeless.org or call 631.464.4314.

Donations collected from the drive

Noelle Lambert & Bryn Elliott

Helping You Help Others

By Noelle Lambert

The Charity of the Month for December is EAC Network

www.eac-network.org

EAC Network is a non-profit organization that empowers, assists and cares for individuals in need. Their objective is to reach individuals within our community through innovative programs that improve quality of life.

Their programs are lead by an outstanding leadership team along with exceptional volunteers. Seniors make up a large portion of the population on Long Island and EAC Network proudly serves them. Their Meals on Wheels program in Nassau County and their InHome Respite Services program helps seniors face challenges with dignity and resourcefulness.

Last year, the EAC Network provided over 180,000 home delivered meals to frail, disabled and homebound local seniors who fervently wish to remain in their own homes. Their nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks help seniors cope with three of the biggest threats of aging – hunger, isolation and loss of independence.

“We received a call from one of our clients recently who told us that the conversations with their Meals on Wheels driver have helped him cope with his wife’s passing,” said Robert Stricoff, Chief Development Officer at EAC Network. “You cannot put a dollar amount on how this program improved this couple’s quality of life and kept them together in the home that they loved and had so many positive memories at.”

According to a Brown University study in 2015, high-risk seniors receiving Meals on Wheels showed greater improvements in both mental and physical health, fewer hospitalizations and were less likely to fall. When you consider that the cost of one year for a senior to receive meals is less than one day in a hospital, it is a bargain and

money truly well spent.

Mary Coyle, Senior Director for Senior Services, Nutrition Education & Food Services at EAC Network said, “Providing food and comfort to our most vulnerable seniors is not a cost to the county, it is an investment. Well cared for and fed seniors strengthens our communities and lowers the overall cost to taxpayers.”

Furthermore, the Meals on Wheels program provides more than just food; drivers deliver a smile, friendly visit, companionship and socialization, all of which is valuable contact for those who live alone. Additionally, dependent on funding, birthdays are celebrated with a cake and pet owners may also receive pet food. To inquire about receiving or volunteering with Meals on Wheels in Nassau County, please contact Mary Coyle at (516) 992-0081 ext 206 or Mary. Coyle@eac-network.org.

Babylon Soccer Teams Are Suffolk County Champs

Babylon’s boys and girls varsity soccer teams have been named Suffolk County champions for the fall 2022 season. This great accomplishment came after a season of hard work and success for the Panthers.

The varsity girls team made it to the championship game with an overall record of 8-8 for the season, ultimately prevailing against Center Moriches 2-1 for the title. “Our goalie Ava Hanson was outstanding, and our

leading goal scorer, Ashley Bell, scored an amazing 20 goals,” said Coach Olivia Stenger. “As a new coach in the program, I knew right away there was a lot of talent on this team. I knew our season was going to be a bit challenging, but our goal as a team was to get to the county championship and beat Center Moriches.”

This was the third straight season in which the boys varsity team earned the county title, coming through with an overall record of 16-3. The

team overcame great odds: the preseason coaches’ poll predicted the Panthers would only finish 4th place in the league. “A huge part of our success was the emergence of our younger players,” said Coach Dennis McGovern. “We also had the experience of our senior group, which has compiled a 43-8 record over the last three years and winning a Long Island Championship last year as well.”

If your nonprofit would like to be featured in this column, please call Noelle Lambert at 631.226.2636 x225 for consideration.

EAC Meals on Wheels driver Gary Stricoff delivers a meal and a smile to a senior in Nassau County

BABYLON SOCCER TEAMS ARE SUFFOLK COUNTY CHAMPS - Babylon’s boys and girls varsity soccer teams have been named Suffolk County champions for the fall 2022 season. Pictured: The Babylon boys varsity soccer team. Photo courtesy of the Babylon Union Free School District

BABYLON SOCCER TEAMS ARE SUFFOLK COUNTY CHAMPS - Babylon’s boys and girls varsity soccer teams have been named Suffolk County champions for the fall 2022 season. Pictured: The Babylon girls varsity soccer team. Photo courtesy of the Babylon Union Free School District

Direct Support Program Award

To Royal Paws In Babylon Village

On Monday, December 12th, Councilmen DuWayne Gregory and Terence McSweeney “pawsented” a Direct Support Program award to Royal Paws in Babylon Village. Royal Paws provides dog boarding services and training while also having dog treats and collars available for sale. Coowners Cindy and Taylor

Chiacchere along with their other trainers Laura and Dana are looking to give back to the community by training therapy service dogs that will assist veterans, firefighters, or police officers. Councilman McSweeney said, “As a 19year member of the FDNY you will see a lot of bad days. Normally we cope with our feelings by talking

to each other, however knowing there is help through a place like Royal Paws is comforting. I look forward to seeing more from them in the future.”

J-Squid, Vincenzo, Ranger, and Bruce are all training to become service dogs and soon will hopefully find people that they can help!

DIRECT SUPPORT PROGRAM AWARD TO ROYAL PAWS - On Monday, December 12th, Councilmen DuWayne Gregory and Terence McSweeney “paw-sented” a Direct Support Program award to Royal Paws in Babylon Village. Co-owners Cindy and Taylor Chiacchere along with their other trainers Laura and Dana are looking to give back to the community by training therapy service dogs that will assist veterans, firefighters, or police officers.

8 year old Lhaso Apso and 5 year old Yorkie mix. Bonded pair. The best of friends.

boy with a “pawsitive” attitude.

PEPPERCORN

HERMAN & LILY

Ethical Friends of Children, a free shop for Long Island children in need, is requesting donations of girls’ clothing, sizes 2 to 5. This outreach program, run and supported by the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island in Garden City, assists more than 2500 children and their families each year by providing them with clothing, backpacks

for school and infant furniture. The service is set up like a store so people can select what they want from a wide variety of clothes. “As we’ve set up our winter store, we are finding a gap in our supply of clothing for little girls,” says Ethical Friends of Children Director Jim LoPresti of Massapequa Park.

Ethical Friends of

Little Girls Need Clothing

Children, established in 1985, is staffed entirely by volunteers and there is no charge for any services. Individuals, families, or community groups donate gently used clothing and other things children may require, such as backpacks. Any cash donations go entirely towards purchase of needed items for children, such as diapers and formula.

“Customers” are referred by many of the area’s social service organizations and are supported by both religiously affiliated and private agencies funded by Nassau and Suffolk Counties

Volunteers are always welcome to help sort, organize and deliver clothing and goods.

To volunteer or donate, please contact office@

ehsli.org

Or call the the Ethical Humanist Society of LI at 516-741-7304.

People can also make

a monetary contribution to EFC through https:// www.ehsli.org/socialaction/ethical-friends-ofchildren/

The Babylon Chorale Auditions

The Babylon Chorale will hold auditions on Monday evening, January 9, 2023 starting with rehearsal at 7:30pm at Sisters of St. Joseph Brentwood Campus. All voice parts are welcomed.

For further information and current protocols, visit www.babylonchorale.org or email info@babylonchorale. org