Kait's Angels Keeps Legacy Of Daughter, Lost Too Soon, Alive With Love

NORTH FORK, NY — It has been 10 years since Kaitlyn Doorhy, a past Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Queen, died tragically while away at college. She was just 20 years old.

But with the passage of time, rather than just survive, blanketed by grief and memories, Kaitlyn's parents and sister, Joe, Darla and Carly, as well as the dedicated team of volunteers who comprise Kait's Angels — a not-for-profit organization created to keep Kaitlyn's memory alive through work to help those in need in the community — have worked tirelessly to keep her legacy alive and flourishing.

Over the past year, the 10th year since Kaitlyn died on August 22, 2014, there has been a flurry of Kait's Angels events — uplifting, life-altering events meant to help those facing their most daunting challenges.

Designer Handbag Wingo

Among those were the annual Kait's Angels Wingo event, which took place at Peconic Bay Vineyards — a crowd always turns out for the fundraiser, where guests can play Wingo and take home designer handbags, gift baskets, and much more. This year, Darla Doorhy thanked the many who attended, as well as Peconic Bay Vineyards owner Stacy Soloviev, who gave the green light for the group to host their event there.

Platinum sponsors included Dr. Joseph M. Duva, Dr. Judy Emanuele, The Jewelry Clinic, Cohen's Fashion Optical Owner Charlotte Smilovich and MaryAnn the Medium.

"I believe the entire community attended dressed in pink," her daughter's favorite color, Doorhy said. "The smiles and laughter filled my heart. All money raised at Wingo stays on the North Fork and is given to those in need."

All winners at Wingo also receive bouquets donated by County Petals, Riverhead Florist and Mttituck Florist. Then, those winners donate the flowers to someone they do not know. "You make a new friend," Doorhy said.

Reflecting on how Wingo night felt, a night colored, always, by missing her daughter after 10 long years, Doorhy told Patch: "My heart was heavy thinking of our daughter Kaitlyn in heaven, but she keeps her dad and I, and the Kait's Angles team, very busy keeping her memory alive."

She added: "I can't say enough about our amazing volunteers. The event is a huge success because of you all. We did it Kaitlyn's way at Wingo. She always said, 'God gave us two hands. One to do for ourselves, and one to do for others.'"

Kait's Angels Community Yard Sale

In September, the annual Kait's Angels Yard Sale raised funds for Stephanie Galka of Riverhead, and Lauren Uribe of Southold, both of whom are battling cancer.

Buddy Benches

Since the beginning, Kait's Angels has worked to install Buddy Benches at local schools and other spots on the North Fork and beyond.

Beginning in 2015, Kait's Angels has installed the Buddy Benches at schools not just on the North Fork but the East End, as a place where students who are feeling lonely, or are having a hard day and need a friend, can sit, so that others can come and raise their spirits and hearts, Darla Doorhy has said.

The Buddy Benches at schools are meant to inspire children to be a good friend, to stand up against bullying, and to share kindness, Doorhy has said.

Now the mission has branched out, she added, and Buddy Benches are installed not just at schools, but outside Town Hall, in memory of Kaitlyn, and are planned for all North Fork libraries.

This year, Buddy Benches were installed, three on Peconic Lane near the Southold Town pickleball courts, one on Fishers Island, and one on the Nassau Point beach causeway. That bench on the causeway was donated by the family of Manuela and Manny Menendez, according to their niece Lisa Garcia.

The couple, she said, were Cutchogue residents for 40 years. Manuela was a retired executive assistant and Manny was a World War II veteran who served in the United States Navy as a radio operator in the Pacific theater, she said. He retired from the NYPD; the couple's daughters donated the Kait's Angels Buddy Bench in "loving memory of their parents," Doorhy said.

Gift Card & Toy Drive

The Kait's Angels Gift Card & Toy Dive takes place through December 6. For details and drop-off locations, click here.

Giving Tuesday

In honor of Giving Tuesday, Kait’s Angels will match all donations made through December 3. The contributions will be used to purchase gift certificates for the annual Toy Drive, ensuring even more support for our community. To donate for Giving Tuesday, click here.

LifeVac Kits

Looking ahead, Kait’s Angels will host a presentation ceremony to celebrate their donation of LifeVac kits to local school and police departments.

LifeVac, Kait's Angels said, "is a non-powered, non-invasive, single-use only airway clearance device developed for resuscitating a victim with an airway obstruction when current choking protocols have been followed without success. LifeVac has a one-way valve that does not allow any air to enter a choking victim on the downward motion. The LifeVac comes fully equipped with an adult mask, a pediatric mask, and a practice mask. The duration of the suction is minimal, which makes LifeVac safe and effective. LifeVac is easy to use in an obstructed airway emergency."

The LifeVac kits presentation ceremony will be held at The Branch Brewery on Sound Avenue on Friday, December 6. Representatives from Southold, Greenport, Shelter Island and Fishers Island schools, the Riverhead Charter School and Southold and Shelter Island Police Departments are slated to attend.

William Araneo, president of Kait’s Angels, spoke about the initiative: "This project complements our mission in that we strive to provide emotional and financial support for our North Fork neighbors, focusing on physical and mental well-being. LifeVac will be a vital addition for our educators, police and others to ensure the well-being of those in crisis."

And so, as the 10th year without their daughter comes to a close — a year filled with moments of pure joy, such as their daughter Carly's wedding — the Doorhys continue as they have from the first, shepherding their daughter Kaitlyn's legacy forward with giving, caring, joy — and always, with love.