Lindenhurst Youth Center Selected As Community Fellowship Honoree

LINDENHURST, NY — The Lindenhurst Youth Center will be recognized by other local organizations in a commemorative dinner.

After a two-year hiatus, the Lindenhurst Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions Clubs will host the 20th Community Fellowship Dinner for the center on April 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Goccia D’Oro II, Montauk Hwy. in Lindenhurst.

Peter Danaher, president of the Lindenhurst Lions Club, told Patch that the purpose of the dinner is to celebrate the Youth Center for its nearly 50 years of service to local youth.

According to its website, the center's objective is to "create a safe-haven for the youth in our community to congregate, learn, and grow." Since 1974, it provides "wholesome recreational, cultural, and counseling programs with professional supervision and guidance for the youth" and their families.

"We thought it was a great thing to celebrate, the fact that we've had an organization for that long serving us and what it means to the community," said Danaher.

The idea for the annual event was created by former Congressman Rick Lazio after September, 11, 2002. Lazio motivated local service organizations to reflect on how to foster mutual support and service at a time of deep despair, Danaher said.

Each year, local groups select one other organization to be recognized for their impact on the community.

"The meal is not so much a ticket, it's to honor the center," he said. "If we make any money from it, then we make it make a donation to that organization (the center)."

The dinner was unfortunately cancelled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Danaher told he is excited to finally continue the legacy of this event.

"It's not so much a fundraiser as, it's an act of recognition and support," he said.

Tickets are $50 per person. For information and tickets, call 631 455-2602.