Helping makes you happy, especially during the holidays

Helping Makes U Happy, run by son/mother duo, Keith and Cassy Caputo, is known for their charitable efforts, often leading school supply, gift and food drives, and so much more.

Their Thanksgiving helping started on Nov. 21 when they helped the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office with their annual giveaway. 

This year, HMUH provided stuffing and gravy. Also, many community members, the Maldonado family, Buckley’s Irish Pub, Serenity Nails, and Raelene’s Hair Studio, lent a hand and helped with both the sheriff’s collection and HMUH’s collections.

HMUH started collecting for their drive on Nov. 22, with the help of JTS Associates CPA’s, P.C., which provides the Thanksgiving boxes. All the families that receive help are referred through Center Moriches, ESM, East Moriches, and William Floyd schools, as well as the Association for Mental Health and Wellness.

Last month, HMUH also hosted a total of three collections for those affected by the North Carolina hurricane.

“Again, thanks to many community members, to our own organization HMUH, to the CMHS Class of 2025, the Sweater Outlet in Moriches, and with special thanks to Eastport Fire Department and East Moriches Ambulance for their generous financial donations,” Cassy Caputo said.

This Christmas season, HMUH will once again be helping with a large donation of holiday pajamas for the children served by the Family Service League in Middle Island.

All throughout the month of December, Helping Makes U Happy will be working on the many Christmas wish lists they receive from local schools, case workers, and organizations. 

With their efforts, local community members and groups adopt some of the children’s wishes through a list they posted on Facebook.

Then, Helping Makes U Happy and groups looking for community service shop for the gifts. Also, others donate toys from toy drives, like Kayla Kelly’s toy drive and the Lions Heart Clubs.

“We also provide boxes of food for Christmas breakfast and dinner for the families,” Cassy added. “Laura Kelly-Sorgie’s Girl Scout troops and Melissa Murphy Pavone provide the breakfast foods.”

And if that isn’t enough, HMUH also makes a toy drop-off to the Stony Brook Children’s Cancer Center.

On Dec. 5, according to Cassy, they will be holding their annual Holiday Boutique, a free shopping event for the residents of Oasis Rehabilitation and Nursing.

“This is one of our favorite events. We provide a wide variety of new gifts for residents to look through and choose for family and friends,” she said. “Oasis staff wraps the gifts of their choice, there’s holiday music playing, snacks, and everyone goes away feeling warm and fuzzy.”

On Dec. 6, Keith said he will once again will be playing Santa Claus at the American Dream Abstract’s Dream Big Holiday Benefit in Patchogue. The event benefits a nonprofit each year, selected by Jodi Brust’s American Dream Abstract Co.

“Keith loves to go around, bringing cheer to everyone, and posing for pictures with the attendees who bring gifts of toys for the children we help at Christmas,” Cassy said.

“I love to make the kids feel happy and to see their faces light up!” he added. “I say it just makes your heart feel good to know you’re helping someone to feel joy, especially at this time of year.”

And on Dec. 8, both Cassy and Keith will be honored by riding in the Mastic-Shirley Christmas Parade this year’s grand marshals.

But what does the organization that helps others need the most themselves?

“What we need most this year is a reasonably priced, good-sized space (1500 square feet) to do our good, helping work,” Cassy said.

Recently, they had to move out of the building they rented and are currently right back where they started—working out of their home and garage. 

“Helping Makes U Happy has grown exponentially. We are coming up on our 10th anniversary and our home has not,” she said. “Other than that, we’re good—we have the best volunteers and the best community members in the world!”