Patch Picks: Five Non-profits Making a Difference

Every week the Patch highlights five businesses, destinations, organizations, services and more.  This week's Patch Picks is shining the spotlight on five non profit organizations that are making a difference in Riverhead and beyond.

• The East End Arts Council and School of The Arts is a non-profit founded in 1972.  Located East Main Street downtown, the Arts Council operates our region's only Community School of the Arts. Adjacent to The School of The Arts, the Council also operates a gallery and gift shop that has long provided showings for known artists as well as up-and-undiscovered artists.  The Arts Council offers programs for the community at a low fee or no fee throughout the year such as the Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival and the Wine Press Concert Series.  The East End Arts Council's mission is "bringing the arts to everyone and inspiring our communities through support, advocacy and education."

KENT ANIMAL SHELTER

• Kent Animal Shelter is located on River Road in Calverton.  A no-kill animal shelter, Kent was founded in 1968 and has been operating for over 40 years.  They offer a variety of services and programs: adopt a pet, sponsor a pet, pet therapy program, retirement home for cats that outlive their owners, and a spay and neuter clinic.  Kent's spay and neuter clinic offers extremely affordable fees, helping to make responsible pet owners and allowing pets to live longer, healthier lives.

• The Timothy Hill Children's Ranch is a 70-acre farm located in Riverhead.  Opening in 1980, the Ranch has been a home to hundreds of boys ages 10-21.  For more then 30 years Jerrell and Fern Hill have opened the Ranch and their hearts to boys from all walks of life, who were in need of a loving, nurturing and therapeutic environment.  The Timothy Hill Children's Ranch is licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and is located on Middle Road. 

• The North Fork Breast Health Coalition is located on Old Country Road in Riverhead.  The organization has no paid employees, and all of the funds raised go directly to helping people on the North Fork who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  The community volunteers at The North Fork Breast Health Coalition strive to continuously provide information and resources to the public. They are also committed to finding an answer to the high incidence of breast cancer in our area.

• The Vail-Leavitt Music Hall originally opened in October of 1881. Today, the non-profit in charge of it works throughout the year to hold events at the Peconic Avenue music hall to continue to promote local music and arts in Riverhead. Attend one of the monthly open mic sessions, Indie Teen Concert Series events, or check out their events page to see when else would be a good time to drop by.