Community Action Southold Town, which has been providing a safety net for families in need across the North Fork since 1965, is hosting its annual Have-a-Heart dinner Friday evening at Peconic Landing in Greenport.
Despite their affluent surroundings, thousands of North Fork residents are living at or below the poverty line.
All proceeds from the dinner will benefit the CAST winter emergency fund, which helps people in need of home heating assistance during the cold winter months.
CAST has a lot going on, said Lisa Boyd, a member of the nonprofit group’s board of directors. The safety net CAST extends for local families consists of many programs and services that require financial support from the community, among them a weekly ESL and computer skills classes and a food pantry three days a week.
The group is also in the middle of a campaign to raise $10,000 to match a Rauch Foundation grant for its North Fork Parent-Child Home Program. The program, now in its third year, has a proven track record of helping children who live in poverty succeed in school by increasing language and literacy skills, enhancing social-emotional development and strengthening the parent-child relationship, according to the organization’s website.
The home visitor provides support for the parent to help them nurture their children through difficult times.
There will be two seatings for Friday evening’s dinner, at 5 and 7 p.m. On the menu: Caesar salad, lasagne, garlic bread,coffee and dessert. Music will be provided by Lea Kendall. Tickets are $25 (adults) and $10 (ages 12 and under).
Peconic Landing is located at 1500 Brecknock Road in Greenport.
