Southold PBA Joins Forces With Kait's Angels To Dedicate Buddy Benches

SOUTHOLD, NY — The Southold Town Police Benevolent Association has remained steadfast in its commitment to Kait's Angels, an organization formed after former Mattituck Strawberry Queen Kaitlyn Doorhy died tragically while away at college in 2014.

On Saturday, the Southold PBA joined forces with members of Kait's Angels, including Kaitlyn's parents Darla and Joe Doorhy, to present Buddy Benches to three North Fork libraries.

The first dedication took place at the Mattituck-Laurel Library, when the Southold Town PBA and Kait's Angels dedicated the bench. Library's Director Shauna Scholl thanked the PBA and Kait's Angels for the caring gift.

Present at the unveiling were Southold Town Police Detective Richard Buonaiuto, Lieutenant Steve Grattan, Sergeant Andrew Garcia, police officer and PBA delegate Pete Onufrak, Kait's Angels's President William Araneo, board members Lisa Garcia, Mary Lou Araneo, and Darla and Joe Doorhy.

The second Buddy Bench was dedicated by Kait's Angels and the Southold Town PBA to the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Library, including Director Rosemary Winters.

The third Buddy Bench was dedicated to the Southold Free Library ,with Director Caroline MacArthur present to accept the gift from the Southold PBA — Police Officer Greg Sanders joined his colleagues for that presentation — and Kait's Angels members.

The Southold PBA has long been a shining force in Kait's Angels' quest for good in an often turbulent world. As has the Southampton PBA: As far back as 2016, thSouthampton Town PBA President Kevin Gwinn and Vice President Erik Breitwieser presented Kait's Angels with a check for $1,000 at another Buddy Bench dedication in Tuckahoe.

When Kait died in August, 2014, hearts were broken and tears of grief flowed for months, as the many who loved her struggled to deal with the devastating blow.

But in the months that followed, slowly, those shattered hearts began to heal, as the new not-for-profit, Kait's Angels, was born to carry on Kait's lifetime mission of spreading kindness and sunshine with her bright smile and giving spirit.

Kait's Angels has dedicated Buddy Benches, benches meant to foster friendships, a place for a child to sit if they are feeling sad or alone, to schools across the North Fork and the East End.

Kait's Angels was originally created by three young people left broken-hearted by Kaitlyn's loss — Jon Demopoulos, Tim Bialeski and Molly Boeckman. And now, the Doorhys and a dedicated team of friends and angels continue that legacy. "Many hands are needed to keep the foundation going," Darla Doorhy said. "It takes a town, and many helping hands, to make it grow."