Brendan House Needs Volunteers to Help Build

Just as in the days of barn raisers and quilting bees, the Riverhead community is coming together to help build the Brendan House on Sound Avenue.

The facility will be a group home to those with traumatic brain injuries, including Riverhead teen Michael Hubbard, who was badly burned in a gel candle accident two years ago.

And now, the Brendan House needs volunteer framers every day including Sundays until the project is finished. Those who know how to swing a hammer or would like to learn are asked to call 631-245-0333. Community Service letters can be given. 

In recent weeks, two fundraisers were held to benefit the Brendan House. New Beginnings Community Center hosted both fundraisers; the first involved Sky Dive Long Island and the All Star bowling alley, who teamed up for Sky Bowling; Skydivers of Long Island transformed into human bowling balls, jumping from airplanes and hitting huge life size pins.

Next, a second fundraiser, a Country Fair, was held, featuring pig and duck races and family fun.

The community has come together to help fund renovations on the Sound Avenue home for months. Recently, the Riverhead Rotary Club presented New Beginnings Community Center with a check for $5,000, to help fund renovations of the Brendan House.

At the recent Riverhead Rotary event were Sandi and Marshall Aykroyd, parents of Brendan Knight Akroyd, a young man who also sustained traumatic brain injury. He died in June, 2011, and the Brendan House is named in his honor.

Nancy Reyer, mother of Michael Hubbard, was also onhand. Her son has been grappling with TBI as a result of the severe burns he suffered as a result of the accident on May, 28, 2011.

After he was badly burned, Michael was transported to Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, N.Y. in Sept., 2011 by the same team that rescued him.

New Beginnings obtained all town permits needed to begin construction; the state health department has also issued the necessary approvals.

"We're ready to go," Allyson Barone Scerri of New Beginnings Community Center said recently. 

Many caring and skilled volunteers have offered their services and donations of materials from building supply companies have also poured in, Scerri said.

But funds are still needed: The organization still must raise an estimated $75,000 to $100,000 in additional donations to complete the project.

To that end, fundraising efforts for New Beginnings continue for the Brendan House.

The nonprofit corporation held its 5th Annual Summer Gala at the Long Island Aquarium in August.

After Michael's accident, the community came together to send love and support, following his progress, and holding fundraisers and events to help him with mounting expenses.