MASTIC BEACH, NY — A new community health organization serving the Mastic, Moriches and Shirley area is launching with a focus on connecting residents to critical resources and reducing barriers to healthier lives.
The Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance, or CHA, will make its public debut at a free farmers market and information fair for senior citizens on September 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Jude’s Catholic Church parking lot, 89 Overlook Drive in Mastic Beach.
The event is being hosted by the Town of Brookhaven and Long Island Cares and will offer fresh produce along with information about health and community services available to Town of Brookhaven senior residents.
For CHA Chairman William Doyle, the farmers market provides a natural setting to introduce the new organization and its mission.
“This farmers market is a vital opportunity for organizations to come together to offer resources for seniors in need. This event, hosted by the Town of Brookhaven and Long Island Cares, is an ideal initiative to launch the Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance. The new organization is partnership of the William Floyd School District, the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services that seeks to enhance the health of those in our area.”
The Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance is a collaborative partnership involving the William Floyd School District, Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library and Suffolk County Department of Health Services. Its broader network is intended to bring schools, government agencies, nonprofits, health and human services providers and community members together around local health needs.
Doyle said the organization is designed to help residents navigate the resources already available throughout the community.
“The Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance is a new, collaborative partnership aimed at identifying the needs of residents and connecting them with resources to improve and enhance the health of those in the community. Members of the organization aim to achieve these efforts through education, outreach, collaboration and volunteerism. The goal of the Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance is to bridge the gap between those in need and available support, fostering a healthier community.”
CHA plans to serve residents of all ages while focusing on areas where access to support can be difficult. Among the issues the Alliance expects to address are food access, substance use disorders and housing, while also identifying gaps in existing services and looking for ways to strengthen what is already available locally.
The organization describes its guiding objectives as the “Three C’s” — Communication, Collaboration and Cooperation.
At the September 30 event, CHA will participate alongside the Town of Brookhaven Senior Department, Suffolk County Department of Health Services and Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library.
For more information about the farmers market, residents can contact Harrison Smith at Long Island Cares at 631-582-FOOD (3663), ext. 120, or Hsmith@licares.org.