Photo by Jessica Woods
Read the full Rockaway Times article "A Good Night with the Graybeards" by Katie McFadden on rockawaytimes.com
It was a night of good people honoring people who’ve done good, all to raise money to help good people do more good things. It was the 22nd Annual Graybeards Dinner, of course.
On Saturday night, February 3, Rockaway gathered at The Rockaway Hotel to celebrate all things good with an organization that does so much for the community—the Graybeards. And they had a few special community members to recognize.
This year’s Don “D.H.” Hart Memorial Award recognized some who’ve conducted an ultimate act of selflessness last year—donating a kidney. Each year, the Graybeards give out the Don Hart award in memory of a fellow Graybeard, who was one to always rise to a challenge, no matter how big or small. From assisting those in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, to volunteering for spring spruce ups and other projects, Hart was always at the ready with his tool bag in hand. Hart passed away in 2008 and today the award is given in his name, to a special community member that also rises to meet any challenge. In 2023, both Meghan Long and Mike Coughlin rose to the challenge by going under the knife as living donors, to give Timothy Rudolph and Father Jim Cunningham another chance at life. Both Long and Coughlin were joined by family and friends to celebrate the honor.
On Saturday, May 18th ‘The Graybeards’ in partnership with ‘The RIBS’ will be sponsoring a FOOD DRIVE to help stock the various food pantries throughout the Rockaways. Blue collection bags have been distributed throughout the neighborhood. If you did not receive a blue bag in your mailbox you can put your donations in any plastic bag. Collection of the food will be Saturday, May 18th. Just leave your donation outside your front door before 9AM next Saturday and someone will be by to pick it up. If for some reason your donation does not get picked up on Saturday you can drop it off at St. Francis de Sales Rectory 129-16 Rockaway Beach Blvd. Please consider giving generously.
*Please do not drop off donations at the Graybeards office.
You can also help with a money donation for the food drive.
By Steve Stathis, in The Wave, Rockaway's Newspaper since 1893
The Graybeards was founded in November 2001 with a simple yet effective mission statement: “to help our neighbors in their time of need.” We’ve been busy ever since.
On October 29th, 2012, Superstorm Sandy ravaged our community with unspeakable damage from floods and fires. When the storm cleared, we found that everyone, including the Graybeards, were in need.
Three weeks after Sandy hit, one of the Graybeards who works for NBC encouraged news anchor Brian Williams to visit Rockaway for a firsthand look at the devastation. After the tour, Mr. Williams said that he would be interested in doing a story on the efforts of the Graybeards.