By:Rebecca Shalomoff
For the 15th consecutive year, the Five Towns Community Chest will make helping people taste as sweet as cotton candy.
The chest's annual fair, scheduled for Saturday, Sept.15 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., at Cedarhurst Park, offers games, rides, entertainment, and of course, heavenly treats, to raise money for local social and health service agencies.
The fair is one of our many events that we produce to raise funds for the organization, said Bob Block, community chest vice president and fair co-chairman. It's the most fun event and the most visible. The whole community is invited.
New to the fair this year will be a Saturday night Picnic in the Park, beginning at 5:30 p.m. A picnic tent and tables will be provided and food court vendors will feature a wide array of tasty edibles from neighborhood restaurants, at discounted prices.
Headlining the evening's entertainment will be a performance of Annie by the cast of the Lawrence Summer Theatre Program. Community and student groups will march in a kick-off parade. Several local bands and high school ensembles are also scheduled to perform in the fair's show-mobile, as well as the dancers from Whiz Kids in Cedarhurst.
All of the games are staffed by local students. Block's daughter, Michelle, a Lawrence High School senior, has recruited many friends to help out.
It feels good to be able to give back to the community, she said.
Among the other events the community chest sponsors are the Red Feather Ball, tennis tournaments and Pro-Am Golf Tournament.
Funds generated by community chest reach 15 agencies that fall under its umbrella, offering care to young children, teens, families, the elderly, underprivileged and emotionally and mentally disabled.
Some of the health and human service member agencies include the Peninsula Counseling Center (PCC), which is the largest community-based mental health agency of its kind in Nassau County. PCC offers guidance for individuals and groups on a wide range of mental and emotional health issues including depression, bereavement, eating disorders and anxiety.
The Tempo Group educates the community on the issues of alcohol and drug use and counsels individuals and families of those already affected. Peter J. DeSibio Child Care Center aids working parents by providing quality child care and support. The Five Towns Senior Center offers a social and cultural environment for over 300 residents and the community center runs after-school activities for local youth.
The Five Towns Community Chest makes sure services are available to all residents, regardless of one's ability to pay.
People don't realize it, but one out of every four residents needs help from one type of the services we offer, said Block, who has been co-chairman of the fair for the past eight years.
Last year, an estimated 30,000 people joined in the fair festivities, which raised about $60,000, mostly coming from individual sponsors and local business, such as American Drive In Cleaners, Coleman Country Day Camp, EAB/Citibank, EJ the DJ, Fleet Bank, Forest Electric Corp., Kitchen Expressions East, Marvin & Sons Jewelry, Phil's Auto Body, Richner Communications, Spiro Risk Insurance and Financial Services, Trott Electric, and Drs. Greenstein, Sheer and Sacolick.
We've been sponsors for the last five years, said Craig Spatz , assistant vice president and Hewlett Fleet branch manager as well as co-chair for the event. As a community oriented bank, we want to support the Five Towns Community Chest because it is a center point for the community.
For more information about the fair or to become a sponsor, call the community chest office at (516) 374-5800.
