Mattituck Lions Club Spreads Holiday Cheer, Love To Needy: Photos

MATTITUCK, NY — Santa came early on the North Fork this week, as the Mattituck Lions Club spread holiday cheer.

Mattituck Lions reached out this week to families in need of a little extra help this Christmas, delivering food, toys and other gifts.

"All the members love this event because of all the joy we bring to so many people who might be just going through a tough time financially, facing health issues, or might have suddenly lost a loved one," said Tim Bialeski of the Mattituck Lions. "Our coming to their homes to give them a little extra food and gifts, it goes a long way. It’s a great feeling, what we do as Lions."

In addition to participating in the Lions Club's international mission of helping the blind, the Mattituck Lions support a wide array of community and non-profit organizations. To view the full list, click here.

Bialeski, chairman of the Mattituck Lions Club Christmas Spirit program, sent a "heartfelt thank you to our local community for once again coming through to help so many families here on the North Fork."

Each year, he said, the Mattituck Lions Club hosts its Annual Strawberry Festival, and it is because of the success of that fundraiser that the group is able to fund community initiatives, including the Christmas Spirit program.

As chairman, Bialeski said he is afforded a designated sum of money to make purchases and then, the community rallies together to donate toys and food.

Bialeski thanked many who came together to make the holidays brighter for families facing challenges. The entire North Fork worked to spread Christmas cheer, he said.

Those who joined hearts and hands included the Mattituck Lions Club, "for always stepping up to make this a successful program," Darla Doorhy, "for donating time and shopping expertise, Wendy Zuhoski of Wendy’s Deli "for always letting us put a toy donation box in the deli," and Judy Thilberg "for gathering all the donated toys and wrapping them," Bialeski said.

He also thanked the Leos Club for helping, especially with "awesome" wrapping skills; Cub Scout Pack 39 and their parents for setting up a food drive outside King Kullen. The drive "brought in the most food ever," he added.

Lion Cliff Saunders from Cliff’s Elbow Room donated turkeys, and Lion Wally Peterson from the Handy Pantry donated hams. Lion David Coughlin and Kujawski Farms donated potatoes, and Brian Williams from CountryTime Cycle helped with discounts on bicycles, he said.

Bialeski also thanked his girlfriend Lisa Bugdin for all her help "organizing the food and getting everything together" and his parents, Anne and Felix, "for all their help behind the scenes and with deliveries of food and bicycles." He also thanked Pace's Dockside for feeding Lions Club members after Tuesday's deliveries.

"Through the generosity of time, toys and food, and even a little 'Ho, Ho, Ho' from Santa, who joined us on some on some of deliveries, we were able to bring smiles and even some tears to 31 local families in need. Thank you all," Bialeski said.

Photos courtesy Tim Bialeski.