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Light Rain A community of giving
Local churches, organizations go all out for the holidays
In the holiday season, many people wonder how they can give to those in need. In Lynbrook and East Rockaway, charities and service organizations are in the middle of the biggest giving season of the year — and are bracing for the lull that sometimes follows.
The East Rockaway Church of the Nazarene is welcoming the largest crowds of the year at its weekly food pantry, open on Tuesday nights from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Patti Galvin, who has been at the helm of the pantry, said the holidays bring a spike in the number of visitors.
“On a typical week we serve anywhere from 20 to maybe 25 people,” Galvin explained. “During these weeks, really since Thanksgiving, we see a lot more people. Christmas and Thanksgiving, the holiday season, really can have an impact on people’s finances” — and the number of people served by the pantry can double.
As a result, Galvin said, the pantry is in need of many items, including some that donors may not realize are in demand. “We accept all non-perishable goods, and we love and appreciate all the donations we receive, and we make sure they’re all put to good use,” she said. “But we are in desperate need of a few items, though they may be a bit unusual. We could really use rice, macaroni and cheese, canned tuna fish, spaghetti and cereal.”
The pantry is open all year, and Galvin said that in the months after the holidays, help is still needed. “We serve a lot more people during this time of year, and as a result our shelves need to be refilled after the holidays,” she said. “We accept and welcome donations year-round, and always are in need of different items, no matter what time of year it is.”
The Order Sons of Italy Per Sempre Lodge in Lynbrook is another organization that gives throughout the year. “We help other organizations,” said Orator Robert Baccari. “We have a continuous food drive throughout the year, and when the box gets full, we bring it over the Sister Barbara at Our Lady of Peace.” Although Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year, Baccari said, people give at other times as well — though some have to be reminded.
