Members of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce celebrated the holiday season of giving in a big way by presenting checks to several local charities in December.
Funds were raised for the nonprofit groups at the chamber’s 13th annual food tasting fundraiser, Culinary Delights, on Sept. 28. Checks were presented to representatives of four of the organizations at the chamber and East Meadow Kiwanis Club’s holiday party at Borrelli’s Italian Restaurant on Dec. 14.
Featuring nearly 30 businesses, Culinary Delights allowed residents to walk from table to table at Calrtun on the Park, enjoying various foods and drinks from local businesses, mingling with their neighbors while being serenaded by members of the East Meadow High School string quartet. Numerous raffle prizes were also available.
This year’s fundraiser benefited several local charities — America’s Vet Dogs (Veteran’s K-9 Corps); the National Ataxia Foundation; the East Meadow Parent Teacher Association Council Scholarship Fund; Kiwanis Club of East Meadow’s Kamp Kiwanis; The Autism Society of America’s Nassau and Suffolk Chapter; and the Nassau University Medical Center Pediatric Department.
At the fall event, Chamber President Mitchell Allen delivered a warm farewell to Linda Walsh, the director of volunteer services at the Nassau University Medical Center, who is retiring after 33 years. He also gave a special thanks to Culinary Delights chairwomen Lyndsey Gallagher and Rosemary Basmajian.