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Community Corner

Patch Picks: Five Great Nonprofits Making a Difference

Elks, Rotary, Lions, Human Resources and Time for Teens each lend a hand in the community.

Southampton has many nonprofit organizations, aiding a variety of causes. Here, in no particular order, are just five of the groups that

, based in the basement of the parish hall, provides food, clothing and holiday gifts to the needy and medical transporation and other assistance to seniors. If you are interesting in lending a hand, check out these "volunteers needed" announcements:

Time for Teens Inc. is a not-for-profit started by licensed clinical social worker Laraine Gordon, who has had a private practice for the last 15 years in Southampton. The organization was primarly created to hold an annual four-day bereavement retreat for teens. Activities include kayaking, a golf clinic, yoga, swimming and basketball. The camp is followed up with monthly group meetings from September through May for teens who attended.

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hosts an annual fundraiser for Time for Teens, a .

The Southampton Rotary Club is the local chapter of Rotary International, an organization established to "combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self." The club donates money to local causes and organizations, such as , Little League and Human Resources.

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In a similiar vein, the North Sea Lions Club is the local chapter of Lions Club International, which was started in Chicago in 1917. It has targeted blindness since Helen Keller gave it that charge in 1925. The club holds three annual fundraisers: a carnival on the fairgrounds on, a St. Patrick’s Day dinner at the Elks hall and a Christmas tree sale at . The money is used to donate ophthalmology equipment to Southampton Hospital and funds to Human Resources and for college scholarships and other causes.The South Fork Lions Clubs have a used eyeglass drop box at the entrance to Southampton Hospital.

The , a chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, is a fraternal organization that donates to veterans and local causes.  The Elks also offer college scholarships to local students. The lodge has 17.7 acres of land, which is allows other organizations to use for events to raise money for charitable causes.

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