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THE COMMUNITY DINNERS

My family has been volunteering for the Community Dinners since 2012. It started when David had to do volunteering for Hebrew School. At the time, the Community Dinners took place at St Peter's church in Port Washington and then got moved in 2019 at Community Synagogue . The Community Dinners are providing a free, relaxing evening of dinner and dancing for families in need. Supervised activities and dinner for children are available in a separate room for guests who come with young children. Thank you to the Community Dinners sponsors - Comfort Diner and Grace's Table (who makes the best mac & cheese and lemon chicken ) and to Community Synagogue for hosting. Here is our schedule for the evening: Help with set up - arrive at 6:00pm (Congregation Hall)Work in the kitchen (for adults and children over 13 years of age) - beginning at 6.00pm. Wait tables and spend time with our guests - beginning at 7pm (Congregation Hall ). Work with younger children - beginning at 6.45pm (Multipurpose Room). Work with older children, playing ball (weather permitting)-beginning at 7pm (NOTE: A security guard will remain in close proximity of this activity). Clean up in the dining area and kitchen- from approx. 8:45-10:15pm
The Community Dinners were cancelled the last two years because of the pandemic. This is how Can You Help Too was created. David and I collected canned food and dry food for local pantries in 2020. In 2021 we decided to create Can You Help Too and to involve our community.

2016

June 3, 2017

December 14, 2019

Who knew this would be our last Community Dinner in person for the next 2 1/2 years. We ended up cancelling last minute the one scheduled on March 2020 This was our first time hosting the Community Dinners at the Community Synagogue. In the past we used the community room at St Peter's church.

December 6th, 2020

Since we could not hold the Community Dinner in person, the committee decided to do a drive-by where we donated gifts, gifts cards and holiday cookies.

December 19, 2021

Hard to believe it is still not safe to have the Community Dinners in person. Just like last year, we had a drive by where we donated gift cards, gifts and holiday cookies.

June 11, 2022

WE ARE BACK IN-PERSON! I was so happy when I found out we were back in-person. There is nothing like in-person contact! It was so nice to work in the kitchen and to meet new families. Even though we did not have as many families as we used to, it was still a huge success. The strong message going back to the community we try to support is that WE ARE BACK! We were able to provide a safe welcoming and inclusive fun time for all. Let the word spread that those who could not join us missed a special event and that they should join next time! OMG and let's not forget that we are still serving the famous Mac & Cheese and Lemon Chicken from "Grace's Table, Inc." Thank you so much to Grace's Table for always being so generous and for donating food for our guests. Grace's Table philosophy is to fight hunger in the United States in loving memory of Grace Fleischman.

September 17, 2022

The Community Dinner got cancelled, because we did not have enough volunteers.

December 10, 2022

We almost had to cancel the December Community Dinner. I decided to reach out to my Key Club teacher to get help. Thank you to Mrs. Goldstein and Key Club volunteers for making it happen. Thank you also to Comfort Diner for donating food and to Community Synagogue for hosting the dinner. The Community Dinner was a hit! We had more than 125 people! It was fun working in the kitchen and welcoming new families,

March 18, 2023

The Community Dinner was a hit! Thank you to Key Club and the Can You Help Too team for volunteering. Thank you to the Community Dinners sponsors - Comfort Diner and Grace's Table and to Community Synagogue for hosting.

May 20, 2023

The Community Dinner was a huge success yesterday! Thank you to Key Club, the Can You Help Too team, volunteers and my friends Julian, Henry and Matthew.

October 14, 2023

The Community Dinner was a huge success! Thank you to Key Club, the Can You Help Too team and volunteers !

December 16, 2023

Great time at the Community Dinner last night!I could not attend, but I will be there in March.Thank you to the Community Synagogue for hosting, to Comfort Diner for donating food, to volunteers, Jack from the Can You Help Too team, and Key Club members.

March 16, 2024

Monday - New Week- - New Goals-

Each Monday in May and June, we highlight businesses partnering with Can You Help Too.

Business Monday - 2024

July 15, 2024BeautyFluff Spa 95 Main Street
You can visit them online at www.beautyfluff.com. Stop by to get a facial or a gift certificate and easily drop off canned food.BeautyFluff Spa was our 2021 #1 supporterBeautyFluff Spa has also kindly agreed to host our donation bin permanently. Thank you, Ms. Yennie, for making it easy and convenient for people to drop off donations!
July 8, 2024 BeautyFluff Spa95 Main Street
July 1, 2024 The Long Island School for the Gifted165 Pidgeon Hill Road, Huntington Station NY
Today, I would like to highlight The Long Island School for the Gifted. Two years ago, I started a Social Action club to tackle food insecurity in our community. Together, we discuss solutions, run food drives, and create awareness flyers. 🌟💬 How do you contribute to your community?
June 24, 2024Smusht 158 Main Street
This week, I would like to highlight Smusht. Thank you for joining our CommUNITY project and for hosting my bin. I can't wait for August 2024 to have our CAn You Help Too exhbit at Smusht to raise awareness of food insecurity in our town. To find out more about Smusht, go to: https://www.smusht.com

Business Monday - 2023

July 3, 2023 My Style Camp2-8 Haven Avenue
This week, I would like to highlight My Style Camp. Thank you for joining our CommUNITY project and for hosting my bin in May and June!
My Style Camp offers great classes for children and adults. See it, dream it, sketch it, sew it!
To find out more, go to: https://mystylecamp.com/
June 26, 2023 The Happy Montessori School 40 Pleasant avenue Port Washington, NY This week, I would like to highlight The Happy Montessori School. Thank you for joining our commUNITY project in April!The mission of the Happy Montessori School is to provide the essentials of quality education for young children: support, predictability, warmth, and acceptance, in the context of intellectually-stimulating, enriching activities. Visit them online at: https://happymontessori.wixsite.com/website
June 19, 2023 The Port Washington Public Library 1 library Drive
This week, I would like to highlight The Port Washington Public Library. Thank you for joining our CommUNITY project and for hosting my bin in November and in December!You can donate to support the Port Washington Public Library at: https://pwpl.org
June 5, 2023Carlo's Pizza109 Main Street
We are so happy to partner with Carlo's Pizza. Best pizza in town! Check out their menu at: https://carlospizzapw.com/menu/
You can visit them online at: https://carlospizzapw.com
May 29, 2023: The Long Island School for the Gifted165 Pidgeon Hill Road - Huntington, NY
You can visit them online at: https://lisg.org This week, I would like to highlight The Long Island School For The Gifted. Thank you for joining our CommUNITY project! LISG is now one of our permanent locations. We run food drives and students help make flyers (drawings) we use to advertise our upcoming food drives. The Long Island School for the Gifted (LISG) provides an appropriate education for gifted children in pre-kindergarten through ninth grade, in a nurturing environment where they will be both intellectually challenged and comfortable socially, thereby providing these children with the opportunity to grow and develop to their potential.To find out more, go to: https://lisg.org You can contribute to their annual fund at: https://lisg.org/fundraising/
May 15, 2023: The Sands Point Preserve 127 Middle Neck Road You can visit them online at http://sandspointpreserveconservancy.org. Stop by anytime, and make sure to drop off canned food in our bin by the gate! The Sands Point Preserve is Can You Help Too 2022 #1 supporter. The Sands Point Preserve on the original Guggenheim Estate embodies the grandeur and elegance that define the Gold Coast period of the early 20th century, when prominent American families built great mansions on large estates as summer retreats along the Long Island Sound. The Sands Point peninsula was the famed “East Egg” in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”Today, the magnificent 216-acre park, including its historic mansions and the Phil Dejana Learning Center, is owned by Nassau County, NY, and is maintained and operated by the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Conservancy provides year-round educational and cultural programs, seasonal celebrations, mansion tours, fitness activities as well as private/corporate event services and film/TV location facilities.There is also a playground, a rose garden, trails and so much more!
May 8, 2023: BeautyFluff Spa 95 Main Street You can visit them online at www.beautyfluff.comStop by and get a facial or a gift certificate and you can also easily drop off canned food
Beautyfluff Spa was Can You Help Too 2021 #1 supporter.
Beautyfluff Spa is also hosting our bin permanently. Thank you Ms. Yennie for making it easy and convenient for people to drop off donations!

Business Monday - 2022

June 13th, 2022The Parent Resource Center232 Main Street
Each Monday until the end of June, I will highlight a businesses partnering with Can You Help Too.
This week, I would like to highlight The Parent Resource Center. Thank you for doing so much to help families in need and thank you very much for offering great program for children in our town. David and I used to take classes at the PRC when we were young. I still remember singing songs with Jeff Sorg.
Can You Help Too is thrilled to partner with The Parent Resource Center. We are helping the PRC collect baby formula and diapers.
Take a look at their June newsletter and the highlight of Can You Help Too: https://parentresource.dm.networkforgood.com/emails/parent-resource-center-may-newsletter-32e111a4-e50f-4044-b9fc-77e9d1ac0f21?fbclid=IwAR0TiNk2ho45bl43z6zR70IE4o6dXFqE4CQsOB0kDNur1k320rPHW65A72
To find out more, go to: https://www.parentresource.org
To donate, go to: https://parentresource.networkforgood.com/projects/21493-parent-resource-center-general-donations
The PRC Story
There is nothing as rewarding and challenging as becoming a new parent. You experience unconditional love, and the unending battle for a better night’s sleep. You join the ranks of parenthood, yet may feel lonely and confused. As infants mature to toddlerhood, you look for new ways to bond with them and support their growth.​The PRC story began with a simple belief: you don’t have to do it alone.​Celebrating more than 4 decades in Port Washington, The Parent Resource Center (“PRC”) has been an integral part of the community, bringing together families with young children to play, learn, grow, and make life-long friendships. We are the place where children and their caregivers make their first connections.​Founded by Lynne Patterson in 1980, the PRC was originally housed in one room of the old Flower Hill School on Campus Drive. Today, the PRC has grown to over 400 members and provides parenting workshops, social events, recreational outings, summer enrichment programs, and a myriad of developmental classes geared toward infants and toddlers. Since the beginning, a core commitment of the PRC has been supporting economically disadvantaged families. Our Outreach program helps many local families gain access to early childhood educational opportunities through our “Stepping Stones” preschool readiness classes, ESL classes, summer enrichment program and scholarships to PRC programs.​With professionally-led classes and a loving staff, The Parent Resource Center of Port Washington has become one of the premiere early childhood learning centers in our region. We strive to create an environment that is welcoming, safe and inclusive and hope that you’ll join us at an upcoming class or future event.
June 6th, 2022My Style Camp2-8 Haven Avenue This week, I would like to highlight My Style Camp. Thank you for joining our CommUNITY project and for hosting my bin in May and June!
My Style Camp offers great classes for children and adults. See it, dream it, sketch it, sew it!
To find out more, go to: https://mystylecamp.com/
May 31st, 2022The Port Washington Public Library 1 library Drive This week, I would like to highlight The Port Washington Public Library. Thank you for joining our CommUNITY project and for hosting my bin in November and in December!
You can donate to support the Port Washington Public Library at: https://pwpl.org
May 23rd, 2022The Happy Montessori School.40 Pleasant avenuePort Washington, NY
This week, I would like to highlight The Happy Montessori School. Thank you for joining our commUNITY project in March!
The mission of the Happy Montessori School is to provide the essentials of quality education for young children: support, predictability, warmth, and acceptance, in the context of intellectually-stimulating, enriching activities.
Visit them online at: https://happymontessori.wixsite.com/website
May 16th, 2022 The Long Island School For The Gifted165 Pidgeon Hill RoadHuntington, NY This week, I would like to highlight The Long Island School For The Gifted. Thank you for joining our CommUNITY project! The Long Island School for the Gifted (LISG) provides an appropriate education for gifted children in pre-kindergarten through ninth grade, in a nurturing environment where they will be both intellectually challenged and comfortable socially, thereby providing these children with the opportunity to grow and develop to their potential.To find out more, go to: https://lisg.org
You can contribute to their annual fund at: https://lisg.org/fundraising/
May 9th, 2022Party Favors & More40 Main Street, Port Washington, NYThis week, I would like to highlight and thank Party Favors & More If you are looking for something special for your upcoming party, you will find what you need there.
May 2nd, 2022: The Growing Love Community GardenManorhaven Preserve, Manorhaven blvdYou can visit them online at www.growinglovepw.comStop by anytime and make sure to drop off canned food in our bin!
The garden's mission is connecting their diverse community to healthy food, nature and each other. Did you know you could rent a plot and grow your own vegetables? Join in celebrating the garden opening and 5th anniversary on May 14th from 2pm to 4pm. Don't forget to stop by my booth!
April 25th, 2022: The Sands Point Preserve127 Middle Neck RoadYou can visit them online at http://sandspointpreserveconservancy.orgStop by anytime but if you come on a Satruday, make sure to drop off canned food in our bin by the gate!
The Sands Point Preserve on the original Guggenheim Estate embodies the grandeur and elegance that define the Gold Coast period of the early 20th century, when prominent American families built great mansions on large estates as summer retreats along the Long Island Sound. The Sands Point peninsula was the famed “East Egg” in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”
Today, the magnificent 216-acre park, including its historic mansions and the Phil Dejana Learning Center, is owned by Nassau County, NY, and is maintained and operated by the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Conservancy provides year-round educational and cultural programs, seasonal celebrations, mansion tours, fitness activities as well as private/corporate event services and film/TV location facilities.
There is also a playground, a rose garden, trails and so much more!
April 18th, 2022: BeautyFluff Spa 95 Main Street You can visit them online at www.beautyfluff.com Stop by and get a facial or a gift certificate and you can also easily drop off canned food Beautyfluff Spa was Can You Help Too 2021 #1 supporter. Beautyfluff Spa is also hosting our bin permanently. Thank you Ms. Yennie for making it easy and convenient for people to drop off donations!
* You can also reach us at help@canyouhelptoo.org Follow us on Instagram at #canyouhelptoopw