The education building of the First Presbyterian Church was filled with activity on Tuesday, Nov. 23 as the annual Holiday Sharing Program was under way. Music was playing to the delight of the young people from Locust Valley and Oyster Bay High Schools who were packing cartons with foodstuffs for Thanksgiving dinners.

"This year we are giving extra boxes to the families because the outpouring of donations from the community was tremendous," said Randy Daub. He and his wife Carol are the C.S.A.C. chairpersons who organized the Holiday Sharing Program again, this year. He began to list those helping to make the holidays better in the caring community of Oyster Bay-East Norwich, for less fortunate families, senior citizens and disabled individuals. Without this thoughtful generosity, many people could not have a holiday meal; a tradition most of us take for granted, said the Daubs.

"We all know how important these gatherings are in strengthening ties and giving a sense of unity to a family. This is especially important to those single parents, struggling to keep their families together. Many seniors are lonely at this time and are struggling financially. They appreciate being remembered. Throughout the year, we respond to human needs by helping out when food, clothing, medical or housing emergencies arise," they said in a letter to the giving community.

The Community Social Action Committee (C.S.A.C.) works closely with local churches, schools and the Youth & Family Counseling Agency to see that all who are in need receive either food baskets or food certificates at Thanksgiving and food certificates for the holidays.

"The Italian-American Club gave us a donation to buy turkeys, as did the Rotary Club of Oyster Bay," said Mr. Daub. Rotary also gave foodstuffs. "There was an Interreligious & Human Needs Council Thanksgiving Service held on Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church and they donated their collection to the program. The Boys Scouts and the Girl Scouts donated food as did Prudential Douglas Elliman. The Locust Valley High School and Middle School donated turkeys and food. The Reformed Church of Locust Valley and St. Dominic's gave donations. The Mill Neck Estates civic association had a coat/food drive and sent a few carloads of food, he said.

Carol Daub added, "On Monday the Alternative Learning Center at Syosset High School came to help. Their teacher, Joanne Pascucci is local and came last year. This time a dozen kids came with her to help. They enjoyed it and they worked very well."

"That reminds us that teens really want to do something good. They don't want to create trouble," said Pastor Louise Stowe-Johns of the Community Methodist Church of East Norwich.

Boxes of pizza were being delivered and former Oyster Bay School District Administrator Joe Ferraro quipped, "And they come here to eat." The Oyster Bay students spent their lunch hour volunteering to help sort and pack the foodstuffs so it was fitting that they take out time for the snack.

Mr. Ferraro added, "Members of the Italian-American Club are coming tonight to bring the food outside to the cars." That portion of the program is also run with great dignity.

Mr. Ferraro, a longtime member of the Interreligious & Human Needs Council board of directors and a regular at the Holiday Sharing Program said this year there are less people being served, but the families are larger. Still that can be deceptive, to say that there are fewer people in the community that need help, said Carol Daub, because there are others involved in the caring program. She said St. Dominic's has their own outreach program that helps people. Another way people are helped is that several families are adopted by members of the community who provide them with the makings of a Thanksgiving dinner. "These 113 families are not being helped elsewhere," she said.

Mr. Daub said, "The kids are the clue to the success of the program. We got them involved five years ago and they enjoy it just as much as we do."

The students' comments showed that was true. "I love doing it. It makes me feel good that I can help the community," said Pat Linden. He is contemplating college or the Navy after high school. (That may be news to his parents, he added, "I guess they will now know.")

Scott Applequist took a pragmatic view of the day. "It's great. I get to hang out with my friends." As to college, he said he hopes to play college basketball and plans to attend the University of Mary Washington in Virginia.

"It's fun," agreed Lauren Iovino but added, "I'm surprised by the number of families to be helped, I wasn't aware of the need in the community."

Cindy Daub said, "I love this and I've done it every year. I came home from college early, just to do this." She wears a silver number 12 on a chain around her neck. "It's my number from Oyster Bay High School. I played volleyball, basketball and softball. At college I'm taking part in the student club intra-murals." Ms. Daub attends Salisbury College in Maryland and is a freshman. Being away at school is great, she said. "I was homesick at first but I like it a lot now." She is a business major. "It's a very broad major. You can go into any area you want," she added.

Getting the event organized takes a great deal of planning. Carol Daub said, "On Monday, Harmony Heights Senior Class came and helped. The Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich sent six of their Keystone Club members to help. Girl Scout Troop 112 and their moms came to help and brought food, too, that they collected on their own. Deliveries came from Oyster Bay High School, the Vernon School and the Roosevelt Elementary School. The seventh and eighth Grade Oyster Bay Student Council collected food and St. Dominic's sent food."

Ms. Daub said, on Tuesday, Friends Academy students and staff came with food and helped sort the donations. The Locust Valley Middle School sent food. The Portledge School sent foodstuffs, turkeys as well as students and staff to help sort and pack. East Woods School students brought toiletries to be packed in with the foodstuffs. People using food stamps cannot use food stamps to purchase such items as toothpaste and toothbrushes, etc.

Early Tuesday morning young children who attend the Oyster Bay Cooperative Pre-School program came upstairs with food donations. Once again the little ones from Oyster Babies came carrying cans of food to donate. Boy Scout Troop 253 brought food to donate.

Inside the body of the church the aroma of fresh produce filled the air. There were bags of potatoes, onions, carrots, broccoli, several varieties of squash, Brussel sprouts, apples, oranges, cauliflower, cabbage, eggplant, turnip and pumpkins. Leslie Nielsen worked with Anita Luckenbill, Margee Styles and Jennifer Romeo packing fresh produce into brown paper bags sitting in the pews, each with a number from 1 to 113 to indicate which family receives which parcel. Each family receives a number that is written on each carton and package and includes the count of adults and children in each unit. That gives the sorters an idea of what type of food to include. The numbered list is compiled by Youth & Family Counseling Agency of Oyster Bay-East Norwich's Shirlee Gerstein. She keeps the names secret in order to maintain the privacy of the families needing assistance.

This is CSAC's only fund-raiser! Your generous donations are still welcome. Checks should be mailed directly to: C.S.A.C. Holiday Sharing Fund, Box 231, Oyster Bay, NY 11771

If you need more information or would like to volunteer to help, please contact Carol and Randy Daub at 922-2054.