Community Chest fair postponed

At this year’s Five Towns Community Chest Fair, attendees can look forward to new food vendors, a dog rescue company, who will have animals up for adoption, and a sukkah for Orthodox fair goers, according to Fair Chairman Eric Keslowitz.

“We love to put the fair on for the community,” said Keslowitz, who also serves as Community Chest’s chairman. “We have a fair committee and we sit around and come up with new ideas on how to make it better and better.”

The fair, which was postponed from Sept. 21 and 22, will now be held on Oct. 12, 13 and 14 at Andrew J. Parise Cedarhurst Park and will include rides, games, food, entertainment and booths with information from local organizations and nonprofits, Five Towns Community Chest Executive Director Bob Block said. “We expect the same fun atmosphere that we always produce for the public,” he said. “We’re in our 29th year and it’s become part of our culture. It’s a great way for the entire Five Towns area to have a great weekend.”

Proceeds from the fair benefit Five Towns Community Chest that financially supports local organizations and nonprofits, which serve the community’s needs. “It has public support and people come out and enjoy it,” Block said about the fair. “It’s successful in raising funds thanks to the support of our sponsors who support the event financially and allow us to disperse the proceeds to quality organizations in the Five Towns.”

Sponsors include the Nassau Herald, the Jewish Star, PrimeTime Xpress, Applebee’s, Panera Bread and Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group.

Five Towns Community Center Executive Director Bertha Pruitt said her organization would have a table to distribute information to the public about the different services they offer. “We don’t have a [public relations] department, therefore we take advantage of opportunities to reach residents of the communities that we serve,” she said. “It’s also an opportunity to touch base with other community-based organizations in the neighborhood. We’ve been involved for as long as the fair has been operating.”

Keslowitz said the fair serves several purposes ranging from increasing awareness about Community Chest to satisfying his need to serve the community. “It’s a great way for the community to see what we’re all about, to fundraise and support the local charities that need our help to keep their doors open and give their services to the community,” he said. “I’m hoping for nice weather, a great turnout and every kid smiling. It makes me feel happy to do something for them so they have a great time and have fun. We’re really looking forward to it.”