Photos: Show of Love as Friends Gather to Make Baskets for Danielle Harrison-Meraz's Fundraiser Sunday

(See photo slideshow below)

NORTH FORK, NY-It’s what North Fork residents do best — come together in times of crisis to help a friend in need.

And that’s just what happened Friday night at Southold American Legion’s Post 803, as a team of angels turned out to help make baskets for a fundraiser Sunday to benefit Danielle Harrison-Meraz, a friend who is battling cancer.

Vincent Tirelli said when he and his wife Kristin heard Harrison-Meraz was sick, they knew they had to do something.

Plans were born for the fundraiser in Harrison-Meraz’s hospital room, during her first visit, he said, and have snowballed into a flurry of love and support.

A fundraiser for Danielle Harrison-Meraz will take place Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.at the Greenport Firehouse on Third Street, featuring music, a 50/50 and a Chinese auction, with a suggested donation of $25.

Harrison-Meraz was diagnosed with cancer of the brain, lungs and spleen, but has faced her challenges with her trademark positivity and loving heart. “Be grateful, always,” she reminds friends daily, always thankful for her blessings, even in the face of trials.

Friends, loved ones and members of the community has been working furiously to organize the fundraiser, donating a dazzling array of Chinese auction baskets, door prizes and food.

Of the outpouring of love from near and far, Harrison- Meraz said she’s rarely speechless.

“I have no words to ever say what’s in my heart. I love them all so much. I am so overwhelmed that I can’t even process it all. I can only pray that God blesses them as they are blessing me. I’m so grateful.”

Surveying the American Legion, packed with friends working tirelessly to help Harrison-Meraz, Tirelli smiled. “How many times can you say ‘awesome’?” he said. “The community is killing us with so much generosity. The number of people who have come out to help is overwhelming.”

Hundreds are expected to attend Sunday’s event, with WLNG even broadcasting live, thanks to sponsors Lademann Electric, Mullen Motors, Roy H. Reeve Agency, Inc., and Markowicz, Fenelon and Bank.

More than 300 Chinese auction prizes were donated, the American Legion donated the space for Friday night’s basket-making, Vineyard 48 gave colorful Chinese auction prize buckets, the Greenport Firehouse on Third Street provided the space for Sunday’s event, North Fork Roasting Co. offered to be onhand to serve coffee, a sea of food donations have been contributed, paper goods were donated by Kait’s Angels, and a full slate of bands including Romeo’s Dream are slated to perform.

The event planning took on a life force of its own, with a sub committee organized to handle the Chinese auction — headed up by Denise Thilberg of the Southold American Legion’s Ladies Auxiliary — food, finance and kitchen committees, and a core committee, Tirelli said.

All proceeds from the event will directly benefit Harrison-Meraz.

Everyone present echoed the same sentiment, when asked why the event meant so much to them personally.

“Danielle and her husband Melvin have been very, very good to us,” Tirelli said.

Claudia Berry agreed and said the fundraiser is a way for friends to show their infinite support. “This is about a community getting together for someone in need,” she said. “Danielle is going to be overwhelmed with all the love.”

Patty Hocker said, as did many others in the room, grew up with Harrison-Meraz on ”the block”. And if one of their lifelong friends needs a hand, hands come together to help. “Any one of them would do it for us,” she said.

Laurie McKiernan said she was so happy to see such a strong outpouring of community support for Harrison-Meraz. “We just love her,” she said.