A Legacy Born: 10th Kait's Angels Designer Handbag Wingo Event Set To Unfold On North Fork

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NORTH FORK, NY — Out of the deepest of tragedies, a forever legacy was born on the North Fork.

August 1 will mark the 10th year for the popular "Designer Handbag Wingo" event, hosted by Kait's Angels. The event takes place on Friday, August 1 at Peconic Bay Vineyards in Cutchogue. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the first games at 6:30 p.m.

The event brings huge crowds eager to bid on a dazzling array of offerings, including this year's grand prize: "Wouldn't you like to win a Gucci bag and sunglasses? This grand prize is not to be missed," Darla Doorhy, one of the founders of Kait's Angels with her husband Joe, said.

But beyond the excitement and festive fun, the event was born out of the darkest of tragedies: On August 22, 2014, Kaitlyn Doorhy, Darla and Joe's beloved daughter, died after being struck by a car while away at college.

She was just 20 years old.

A heavy blanket of grief cloaked the community as all struggled to grasp the loss of a young woman, a former Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Queen, known for her bright smile, philanthropic spirit and caring heart.

In true North Fork fashion, though, the many who loved her stood strong, choosing to remember Kait and celebrate her life by doing good works in her name.

The years since have been filled with events and fundraisers organized by Kait's Angels, a philanthropic organization created to keep Kait's memory alive through acts of kindness toward others in need — just as she would have done.

Whether a child in the community is battling illness, a family is crippled by painful loss, or young students are being guided along the path of learning to treat others with kindness and respect, Kait's Angels has turned out, front and center, to lend a helping hand and shine a light of compassion.

"A life that touches others goes on forever," Darla Doorhy told Patch this week. The words have been loving placed on new T-shirts this year, designed by Jen Lew.

The 10th Wingo event, Doorhy said, will also feature a sea of bags from designers including Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, and more.

And that's not the only fundraiser on the agenda: On Sunday, September 7, the Kait's Annual Poker Run and Pig Roast will take place at Breeze Hill Farm in Peconic. For details, click here.

Another beloved community tradition, the annual Kait's Angels yard sale, will take place on Saturday, September 13, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Donations can be dropped off at the Doorhy home, located at 1125 Ole Jule Lane in Mattituck, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. only. Proceeds this year will benefit the family of Marta Thomas, who died in April following a cancer battle, leaving behind her husband and two children.

In addition, Kait's Angels is hosting a Camper Raffle; the winner will have seven nights of camper use with generator included, as well as delivery, setup, breakdown and full cleaning. The winner will be drawn on September 13 during the yard sale.

On Saturday, October 11, J.McLaughlin of Southold, for three hours only, will donate 10 percent of sales to Kait's Angels, Doorhy said.

Reflecting on the decade that's transformed unthinkable loss into a mission of giving back, Doorhy said: "It's 10 years of Kait's legacy."

For information on all events, click here.