Warm Thanksgiving Meals For Needy Offered Wednesday In Greenport

GREENPORT, NY — For the second year in a row, students have teamed up with Community Action of Southold Town to cook up a delicious Thanksgiving dinner for those in need.

CAST is collaborating with the Suffolk Community College Culinary Arts Program and Clinton Memorial A.M. E. Zion Church in Greenport to host the hot Thanksgiving Dinner on the North Fork Wednesday night.

Suffolk Community College Culinary Arts program students and faculty chefs will prepare about 200 Thanksgiving dinners.

"With the help of generous donors, CAST is providing all the ingredients, including turkeys, potatoes, stuffing mix, sweet potatoes, and vegetables. The students will be cooking all morning and the meals will be transported to Greenport this afternoon by CAST staff and volunteers and Clinton Memorial Church staff and volunteers," a release said.

This year, Briermere Farms donated assorted fruit pies, "a real treat for those joining us for dinner," Blue Duck Bakery donated dinner rolls and Breeze Hill Farm donated apple cider to round out the meal with delicious local items, the release said.

“We greatly appreciate the time and talent of the Suffolk Community College Culinary Arts
Program students and faculty and the generosity of local businesses and residents. It’s
heartwarming to see the community come together to provide a delicious Thanksgiving dinner for those who may be struggling or alone during this holiday season,” said Cathy Demeroto, executive director of CAST. “This community Thanksgiving dinner exemplifies our motto of Neighbors Helping Neighbors."

Since 1965, CAST has been helping low-income residents on the North Fork meet basic needs including nutrition, clothing, employment, energy, and education. CAST’s mission is to promote self-sufficiency and provide a critical safety net for families from Laurel to Orient Point and Fisher’s Island.

Meals, eat-in or take-out, will be served from 5 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Clinton
Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, located at 614 Third Street in Greenport. The meals can also be delivered to those who are unable to come to the church. For more information, call 631-477-1717.

Thanksgiving marks the tenth year Suffolk County Community College students and faculty have volunteered culinary expertise to support the holiday cooking; it's the second year SCCC has worked with CAST.

"We celebrate Thanksgiving by cooking and sharing our favorite foods, being with the ones we love and giving thanks for all that we have. Our college and students, faculty and staff enjoy giving back to our community," said Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Shaun L. McKay.

Students and faculty chefs from the college's culinary program prepared last year's meal with ingredients provided by CAST, including more than 20 turkeys, 100 lbs. of mashed potatoes, 50 lbs. of sweet potatoes, 80 lbs. of stuffing; 25 lbs. of assorted vegetables, more than 5 gallons of gravy, and 20 each of apple and pumpkin pies.

Patch file photo courtesy Suffolk County Community College.