The stories said it all.
As Denis Noncarrow, president of the board of Community Action of Southold Town, took to the podium at the Soundview in Greenport last night during a celebration of CAST’s 50th anniversary, he painted images of the countless who have come to the organization’s doors over the years, needing help.
The stories he’s heard over past weeks spent preparing for the event, he said, are “amazing.”
One grandfather, whose family is now doing well, told Noncarrow, “Back in the 60s, when we hit the skids, we had no clothes. No food. If it hadn’t been for CAST, we wouldn’t be where we are as a family.”
For 50 years, CAST has been meeting the needs of the hungry, the cold, the unemployed, providing a food pantry, fuel deliveries on bitter cold mornings when clients find themselves without heat, school supplies for children who would otherwise go without, and now, computer training through a generous grant program, so residents can find careers.
“All towns have people in need,” Noncarrow said. “But Southold was not okay with that. We are a family and we’re going to hold your hand and get you through what you are going through.”
Southold came together as a town and for 50 years, has been taking action in all ways possible, Noncarrow said.
Noncarrow said while, over the years, many of CAST’s programs have stayed the same, with new, digital methods of collecting data, “We find CAST helping people in ways we never would have thought possible. We work to get people who have found themselves in hard times back to were they want to be, and there are now many ways of making that happen.”
Those who have been helped by CAST during the hard times shared their thanks in testimonials inside the event’s program.
“CAST has been a great help to me, especially through my bad times,” one person wrote.
Another said CAST has helped “when food was low,” and to provide clothing when there was no money in the budget.
“It means a friendly smile and a ‘hello’ from the girls,” one person wrote. “I’m 79 and spend a lot of time alone, so they welcome me. Also the food pantry is a blessing. I always have enough, thanks to CAST, and the services are helpful to me. Thank you all.”
Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said CAST has a long history of making a difference in people’s lives.
John Stype, representing Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, was onhand. “You give people not a handout, but a hand up,” he said.
New York State Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo said CAST helps people in the most critical ways, helping them to live, “to have food on the table.”
Noncarrow said the biggest challenge remain’s keeping CAST funded. “There is little government funding available. Its mostly local contributions. We have a great board, great employees and great volunteers. We hate to keep asking but we have to, so we can keep caring for the people that need us.”
He added, “So many families are one paycheck away from a big problem. It’s expensive on Long Island. We gave out 140 backpacks with school supplies this year to all of our towns, including Fishers Island. They often need short-term help with food or clothing. Long-term, they may need job training or help looking for a job. You have to have all the tools ready and the people working at CAST with a caring heart.”
After thanking all who have contributed to CAST’s rich history of helping in Southold Town, Noncarrow smiled. “This is a blessed organization.”
