Riverhead civic meeting draws Supervisor-elect Halpin, sparks volunteer push

Riverhead residents had a chance to meet Supervisor-elect Jerry Halpin when he attended the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association meeting at the Riverhead Free Library on Jan. 12. The morning session, which began at 10:30 a.m., also handled routine civic business including collection of annual dues and acceptance of new member applications. In the afternoon, the association hosted its 4th Annual Volunteer Expo from 1 to 3 p.m., drawing residents to learn about local volunteer roles and nonprofit services.

The gathering underscored the practical link between local governance and community-level supports. As Supervisor-elect, Halpin will help shape county priorities that affect everything from food access and senior services to emergency preparedness and public health outreach. For a community like Riverhead, where grassroots organizations and faith-based groups fill gaps in social services, face-to-face engagement builds the volunteer networks that sustain those programs.

The Volunteer Expo offered a low-barrier entry point for neighbors looking to help with school programs, food distribution, senior check-ins, and other community needs. Events like this also serve public health goals: bolstering volunteer capacity improves response during storms and heat events, expands vaccination and outreach efforts, and helps reach residents who may face language, transportation, or economic barriers to services. Civic association activity that combines membership drives with volunteer recruitment increases the odds that vulnerable residents will receive timely support.

For civic leaders and county officials, the meeting signaled local appetite for involvement as the county enters a leadership transition. Volunteer pipelines cultivated at community events can reduce pressure on municipal budgets while strengthening social safety nets, but only if outreach intentionally includes underrepresented neighborhoods. Equity-minded volunteer recruitment means recognizing who lives and works in Riverhead and lowering practical barriers to participation, such as offering flexible shifts, childcare, or travel stipends where possible.

Attendance at the library meeting and expo also reinforced the Riverhead Free Library’s role as a civic hub, a neutral place where residents can connect to government representatives and local nonprofits. For volunteers and neighbors who want to stay involved, joining the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association or attending future expos is a direct way to shape priorities and help neighbors.

The takeaway? Get to a civic meeting, sign up as a member if you can, and consider volunteering. Small commitments build the networks that keep our community healthy and resilient—it's how local government and neighbors actually get things done.