Familes Receive $10K From Carolers, Kris Kringle Fund

Local families-in-need received $10,000 checks from a group of singing carolers as part of the 7th Annual Kris Kringle Fundraiser event held Tuesday night.

Owners of the , Mark Miller, Brian Kerns, and Frank Mills raised about $70,000 this year. About 100 people attended a dinner at the restaurant before walking to this year’s homes that were receiving gifts from the fund.

“This shows in a down economy about how many people who really care,” Kerns said.

This year, some of the families were chosen by Maria Polak of the Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau. Fundraising efforts started well before the Christmas season with efforts including donation jars throughout the town and raffle ticket sales.

“We’ve been fundraising for about six months. We had golf tournaments, bass fishing tournaments and the Children at the Bayport H.S and Middle School ran a soccer tournament,” Miller said.

Miller said that the fundraiser has grown every year, starting at $1,000 in their first year growing to this year’s $70,000.

The delivery of the checks is also lovingly organized. A group, well over 100, gather outside the family’s homes singing Silent Night as Kris Kringle made his way up to the front door to present the gift.  

Jan Taraskas of the Patchogue Rotary Club has been attending for the past two years.

“It’s immediate. You see the good that it does and you directly benefit the families in the local area,“ Taraskas said.

Many of the attendees brought their children along to participate in the merriment and giving spirit. A table of Girl Scouts and a bake sale helped continue the fundraising efforts throughout the evening.

“So many people came out in support. This is really what Christmas is all about. Families bring their children along. We can really help those that are less fortunate than us, “ Kerns said.

Michael Sorrentino contributed to this story.