Local food pantry honors supporters

Reaching Out Community Services held its Fourth Annual Dinner Gala on April 19 at the Rex Manor.

The gala honored local community volunteers and activists that support and further Reaching Out’s goal of fighting hunger. The night’s honorees were Nick Danza, who received the Man of Valor Award; Richard Hanna, who was given the Student of the Year Award; Joyce Hinote, who snagged the Volunteer of the Year Award; Andy Manicone, who received the Charity Service Award and State Senator John Sampson, who was honored with the Public Service Award.

Other award winners included Reverend Gaetano Sbordone, who got the Humanitarian Award; Kristine Snyder, who received the Altruistic Award, and her companion dog, Jena Snyder, who got the Esteemed Collar Award; St. Frances Cabrini Roman Catholic Church, which was given the Proverbs 19:17 Award (“If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!”) and Fran Vella-Marrone, who received the Civic Leadership Award.

The night was complete with dinner, dancing, raffles and an auction, all to benefit a good cause. All proceeds of the night went towards benefitting Reaching Out which runs a food pantry at its New Utrecht Avenue headquarters.

“The event is conducted every year for the salvation of the Reaching Out program. We do this as a fundraiser [and to] bring awareness to the fight against hunger. [The] people that we honor are involved in the fight against hunger, but outside of [that] are involved in the community. We try to honor people that make a difference, that are instrumental in the community. We are very proud of the honorees,” remarked Thomas Neve, founder of Reaching Out.

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