CAP Volunteers Receive Community Service Award
Riverhead CAP and coalition volunteers are this year’s recipients of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Award for Excellence in Community Service. The award was presented by Carolyn Stepnoski from DAR’s Suffolk Chapter at the 2019 Riverhead Country Fair.
Felicia Scocozza, CAP’s executive director, accepted the award along with a group of about 20 adult and youth volunteers.
“On behalf of our adult and youth volunteers, I thank the Daughters of the American Revolution for recognizing their outstanding commitment to CAP’s mission,” said Scocozza. “CAP was founded by volunteers and could not continue our work without the dedication of community members who generously donate their time each month.”
According to Scocozza, CAP currently has about 200 active volunteers across all of its youth and adult programs. In addition, CAP recorded nearly 5,000 volunteer hours valued at over $147,000 in 2018.
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A rich american history
According to Riverhead Town Historian Georgette Case, the Suffolk Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was formed on February 12, 1920. Any woman 18 years of age or older is eligible to join DAR provided they can prove they lineally descended from a patriot or soldier in the American Revolution.
DAR has an accredited genealogy library open to the public for research. The DAR Museum is also open to the public and has rotating exhibits. Their Washington DC buildings are located adjacent to the White House and is the largest block of buildings owned by women in the world.
The Excellence in Community Service Award was first presented in 1999 to Al Shields and Jim and Connie Lull. Jim and Connie founded the Riverhead Country Fair. Al Shields was a local radio personality and college professor. He was instrumental in being “jailed” to collect bail for the purchase of the first Riverhead Town Ambulance.
Supporting the community
Suffolk Chapter has participated in a Veterans Day luncheon for over 35 years to raise money for Northport Veterans Hospital. This year, DAR as a whole will sponsor the USS Eisenhower, sending items from a wish list that the ship’s Chaplin provides.
The chapter, through the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, supports several schools. Tamassee DAR School is in South Carolina where NY state maintains a ‘cottage’ for up to 12 girls ages 5 to 11 and a house parent. They contribute to the upkeep of the cottage and send birthday and holiday cards to the girls. Suffolk Chapter also established a Birthday Fund, so that each girl receives a gift and party with cake and decorations.
For the past 20 years, the Suffolk chapter has held Flag Day ceremonies. For the past 15 years, they presented the program to Pulaski 5th grade students. Each student receives a flag lapel pin.
Four years ago, Suffolk Chapter presented a Kevlar vest to the Riverhead Police Department and two years ago provided “prayer cloths” for each police officer. These cloths state that members are praying for their safety and the cloths are made small enough to fit in their hats or wallets. They also do this for active military and veterans.
The National Society recently accepted its millionth member since DAR was founded in 1890. There are more than 3000 DAR Chapters in the US and around the globe. Currently Suffolk chapter has 52 members.
become a cap volunteer
To learn more about CAP’s many adult and youth volunteer opportunities, contact us at 631-727-3722 or info@RiverheadCAP.org.