Her friends and family have made sure that Kaitlyn Doorhy will be remembered forever, with tributes in her honor and now, a charitable group, “Kait’s Angels” kicked off in her memory.
According to a post on the “Rest in Peace, Kait Doorhy” Facebook page, Kaitlyn’s friend Molly Waitz announced Thusday, “It is with a happy heart and great big smile I can announce the news to everyone that we are starting a charitable group called Kait’s Angels.”
Kait’s Angels, she said, “is a non-profit group whose main focus is to pick up where Kaitlyn left off. She was a giver and that is exactly what we would like to do. We act as her stand-in Angels. We will host food drives, clothing drives, volunteer at local events and gatherings. We strive for the better of the people just as Kait would and hope to serve the community in a way that will make Kaitlyn proud.”
Waitz said she has met with many people over the past week, including the Doorhy family, “all who agree that this is exactly what Kaityln would do. She would sign up and volunteer to help with anything needed.”
To begin, this December the group will host its first event, a holiday food and cold weather clothing drive; donated goods will be distributed to people in need in the community and help fill up local food pantries. Waitz said donations of non perishable food and cold winter gear such as hats, gloves and scarves, are needed.
For information on how to join the group, become and Angel, or bring goods to a donation box, email kaitsangels@gmail.com. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Keep smiling, shine bright, stay beautiful,” Waitz said.
In the months after Kaitlyn’s tragic death, her memory lives on, and her legacy of love continues to touch the North Fork community. Kaitlyn, 20,died in August from injuries sustained after being hit by a car near her college, Sacred Heart University, in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Earlier this month, the Mattituck Cutchogue PTA dedicated “Kaitlyn’s Buddy Bench” in her memory to the children of Cutchogue East Elementary School.
Last month, a sea of those who loved the former Mattituck Strawberry Queen flocked to Sacred Heart, where a football game was played in her honor during the school’s Family Weekend.
Wearing pink T-shirts adorned with her name and the words “Forever In Our Hearts,” about 90 friends and family members, as well as members of the Mattituck Lions Club, traveled to watch the game.
Kaitlyn was also honored by her four roommates, who planted a tree in her memory outside the Chapel of the Holy Spirit on the SHU campus. The tree was dedicated during Family Weekend and a plaque was placed nearby before a crowd of Doorhy’s visiting friends and family members.
According to Timothy Bialeski, president of the Mattituck Lions Club, Kaitlyn’s friends were “brought together to celebrate her life. We are inspired by her presence. Even though she is not physically here, we embrace her.”
Kaitlyn’s father Joe opened bottles of champagne, to toast his beautiful girl.
Sacred Heart University also announced that the H.W. Wilson Foundation has given $100,000 to Sacred Heart University to establish an endowed scholarship in memory of Kaitlyn, who died just before beginning her junior year after being hit by a motor vehicle while walking to campus.
The scholarship will be given each year to a junior student from Long Island with financial need; it is anticipated that the first award will be given for the 2015-2016 academic year.
