10 Places to Volunteer or Make A Donation

The North Fork offers several places where you can pitch in and help out with donations of food, clothing, and medicine to engage in the true spirit of Christmas. Doing some of your Christmas shopping at local thrift shops, for instance, will ensure that some of your holiday spending goes to a good cause while you whittle away at your gift list and stay on budget.

1. located at 312 Main Street in Greenport needs volunteers to help out. The thrift shop, locally known as the Op-Shop, is supported by donated merchandise and is run by members of the hospital's Ladies Auxiliary. Proceeds from sales go directly to the hospital. The ladies also operate a gift shop in the lobby of the hospital on Manor Place. The Gift Shop is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both shops are ideal places to do some Christmas shopping. The Op-Shop has books, gently used clothing — including the occasional great find on a  fur coat — as well as an impressive collection of glassware and vintage jewelry for gift giving. The Op-Shop is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations are accepted daily until 2 p.m. The Op- Shop does not take computers, fax machine, used mattresses, encyclopedias or text books. Clothing should be cleaned.  Call 631-477-5197 to volunteer for either a half day or a full day shift.

2. referred to as CAST is accepting donations and needs volunteers to help run its thrift shop located in its main building at 311 Front Street in Greenport. CAST is committed to helping low-income residents find jobs and housing. The organization provides residents with food and fuel assistance and tries to provide educational opportunities and training. CAST accepts donations of non-perishable food items including canned goods. They also accept toys, new school supplies, dishes, pots and pans and household appliances. They also take computers in working order. Donations are accepted during business hours on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call 631-477-1717 to volunteer.

3. located at 69465 Main Road in Greenport operates in conjunction withon Front Street in Greenport. Proceeds from the thrift shop's sales of donated merchandise are used to help low-income town residents. North Fork Parish Outreach operates a food pantry and also helps provide residents with fuel assistance and other services. The shop is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Donations are accepted daily until 2 p.m. on weekdays. On Saturday, the thrift shop is open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Donations are accepted until closing time. Gently used clothing, household items, books and jewelry as well as other items are accepted. Call 631-477-6607 to volunteer.

4. operated under the auspices of the in Riverhead provides food, shelter and medical attention to the needy on the East End. Donations are being accepted at the Peconic Community Council's headquarters at 554 East Main Street in Riverhead. Volunteers are always welcome to help out at food pantries and at the several area churches that provide shelter to the homeless on a rotating basis for each night of the week. Donations can be made weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the council's headquarters in Riverhead. Winter clothing, including coats, boots, hats and gloves as well as jeans and sweaters would be appreciated greatly along with canned goods and other non-perishable foods. Visit their website at www.maureen'shaven.org to make a contribution or call 631-727-6831 to volunteer.

5. provides seniors on the North Fork with companionship and human interaction on a daily basis.  This retired senior volunteer program, referred to as an RSVP service covers the East End from its headquarters in Westhampton. Program coordinator Bruce Petrucci is seeking both participants and volunteers on the North Fork. Seniors age 55 and over interested in volunteering to check in on other seniors who live alone and may be isolated should call 631-288-0754. If you would like to participate in the program and take advantage of this free service, call the same number, 631-288-0754 to register.

6. Senior citizens around town can use a volunteer handyman if you have the time and the tools to help out and participate in a program administered by the Volunteers are needed to make minor household repairs that do not require skilled and licensed carpenters, plumbers or electricians. The labor is donated. The homeowner or renter pays for materials and supplies. So if you can change a light bulb, rake leaves, change a washer on a leaky faucet or put up a storm window and shovel snow and want to help the seniors, call the Senior Center at 621-298-4460.

7. The Group for the East Endis dedicated to preserving the environmental and rural character of our region. North Fork residents are encouraged to volunteer at the Group's Southold office located on Route 25. The group needs people to help clean up nature trails and work on plantings all year long. Adventurers who love nature may want to sign up to serve as "Osprey Ambassadors." These are the cold weather enthusiasts who don't mind inspecting empty osprey nests and rebuilding platforms that need repair or replacement. If you are interested in helping, the group needs you in December and January when this work is done. You can also attend and monitor important public hearings for the group or become an E-volunteer and help spread the word via the newsletter, emails and blogs or via twitter and facebook. The group can use some help maintain their office building and grounds in Southold if you have time. Call Kate Schertel at 631-765-6450 or email kschertel@eastendenviornment.org. to volunteer.

8. Help your local library. Our public libraries are always looking for volunteers for Friends of the Library. To get involved contact your local library in , or to pitch in and support reading and literacy. The Friends provide bus trips to New York City and sponsor programs at their respective libraries.

9. Fight fire. That's right, if you really want to be of service to the community become a volunteer firefighter in one of our fire districts from Greenport to the Riverhead. Trained emergency medical technicians are also needed to staff the Fire House Ambulance Service and respond to calls when there is an accident or someone is having a heart attack at home at 3 a.m.

10. Do a good deed. This list should get you started. It is the Holiday Season and it is a time of giving, so get involved in the community and the lives of the people around you. Help someone, join an organization, clean out your closet and bring your old winter coats to your church thrift shop. Drop off some canned goods at one of the several food pantries on the North Fork or spruce up the yard at the Group for the East End. And try not to walk past the Salvation Army Santa at the in Cutchogue. Try to make a donation.