Businesses And Nonprofit Help Teenager Have Sweet Sixteen

When Samanatha Morales, founder and director of Coram-based nonprofit Branches Long Island, got an impassioned plea from a Patchogue mother who had recently fled a domestic abuse situation to help send her daughter birthday cards for her 16th birthday she wanted to do as much as possible for the family. The mother of two reached out to Morales' Facebook group for her charity, founded this past fall, telling Morales "I would love for my daughter to be showered with cards." The family had to cancel a planned Sweet Sixteen party due to the difficult circumstances, which was the exact type of Long Island family in need situation Morales founded Branches Long Island to serve.

Last Sunday, instead of just cards, Branches Long Island was able to provide the sixteen-year-old girl with a personalized cake, dinner and gifts thanks to Michael Anthony's Pizza in Centereach, Pure Sugar Inc. in Amityville and volunteers.

Morales told Patch she founded Branches Long Island to help Long Island families in need, working closely with shelters and social workers she knows. "I just always found myself getting involved trying to help people through social media," Morales explained, so she formalized her work and now raises money through fundraisers as well as accepting donations from the public who stay informed via the nonprofit's Facebook page.