'Memories For Morgan': Kids Facing Challenges Enjoy Strawberry Fest

NORTH FORK, NY— It was an event that would have made her proud.

On Thursday, Adam West, who is chairing this year's 69th Annual Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival, organized a special event to honor his beloved little girl, Morgan, who died in 2018 when she was just 9 years old, after a long battle with cancer.

The first annual "Memories for Morgan" was held Thursday afternoon — featuring an hour-early opening to 30 local children challenged with sensory issues, life-threatening illness, or undue hardships, "so they can enjoy the carnival without the pressures of crowds or lines," he said.

"Memories for Morgan," along with the Mattituck Lions Club, partnered with Stony Brook University Hospital's occupational therapy program as well as local occupational therapy practitioners, who volunteered their time and acted as "buddies" for participants and their families, he said.

The event was sponsored by North Fork Woodworks.

Speaking with Patch, West said the idea was born when he and his wife Nikki were discussing their Make-A-Wish Foundation experience; the organization afforded Morgan the chance to participate in experiences such as ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, he said.

"A lot of things were offered to us, over the years, and we wanted to help others in our community," he said.

And so, West said he reached out to Reithoffer, a family-owned company that was founded in 1896 and that provides the rides for the festival.

"They're able to lower the lights, the noise, adjust the speed of the machines and the rides," to accommodate kids with unique needs, he said — adding that they agreed right away to help.

West said he then reached out to the Mattituck-Cutchogue, Southold, and Greenport School Districts, asking for teacher recommendations for students.

Families arrived at 3 p.m. and began riding the rides at 3:30 p.m. North Fork Woodworks covered the carnival costs for the time; the festival committee provided the family with shortcake and other festival treats. Then, Steve Ammirati of the Catered Fork in Southold provided dinner for the kids and their families, he said.

Behind the vision was the memory of the Wests' beautiful little girl, Morgan. A third-grader at Cutchogue Elementary Schoool, Morgan loved Pooh Bear and all things Disney; her annual family trips to Damariscotta Lake, Maine; playing baby dolls with her loving big sister, Hunter; running around laughing with her hilarious little brother, Wyatt; goofing around with all her cousins; sleepovers at her grandparents; her two best friends; playing soccer with the Queen Bees; and most of all, snuggling with her family in her most absolute favorite place to be, home.

West said he first volunteered at the Strawberry Festival in 2018, after Morgan died. He later became a full-time member and is now first vice-president of the Mattituck Lions Club, as well as chairing the Strawberry Festival.

His goal has been to raise awareness of the fact that the Strawberry Festival's primary mission is to fundraise for community members in need, West said.

"We personally were recipients of their generosity on numerous occasions. I know firsthand how good they are, how much they give back," he said.

When asked what he thought his daughter would say, about the "Memories for Morgan" event, West said: "I hope she's proud."