Inspiration Award winners

Nominated by Moriches Chamber members Maryann Reid Davis and chamber board member and last year’s award recipient Miriam Gillies, the Moriches Paquatuck Squaws have been selected as a group for this year’s Inspiration Award winners.

Their journey as a group in the community began with Gus Stout, president of the Moriches Rotary Club, and Lewis Foster, member of the Moriches Rotary Club, in 1972. The duo asked a group of local women for help with raising funds for Camp Paquatuck, a special camp for children with disabilities. That same year, the ladies organized a very successful Christmas fair, which they decided to continue with more fundraising to help the children of the camp.

The original group of the Squaws started with about 10 women and has grown to over 30 women with membership. They are known for hosting fundraisers, including the original Christmas fair as well as the Bike-A-Thon, Chinese auctions, card parties and the local favorite, The Spooky Walk. The Spooky Walk began in 1989 and has since become the Squaws’ greatest success.

“It’s all about the kids when I moved here, I joined right away through an original member. I was very sad because I was leaving my home where my kids were born and I was crying my eyes out but she said don’t worry get you involved and bring you up to the squaws from the camp from that day on I just stuck with it,” said one of the longest standing members is Jane Miller who currently serves as vice president.**

Another member Marcella Weiss, the camp board representative and Spooky Walk coordinator, has been a member since 1988. She noted that the unique thing about the organization is that it donates 100 percent of all the proceeds through 100 percent volunteer work.
“We don’t let anyone else make money,” she said, noting that vendors are not even permitted inside the Spooky Walk event and that everything is done internally. “Years ago, I was on the phone all the time trying to find volunteers, and now they find me. It’s unbelievable; we have 200 to 600 volunteers!”

“They spend weeks putting together the most amazing, unusual, and scary exhibits,” added Gillies of their hard work. “It is one of the best Halloween attractions on Long Island, and this year attracted over 10,000 people.”

The Paquatuck Squaws meet monthly to plan, discuss, and then implement fundraising. Over the years, the Squaws have donated 100 percent of the thousands and thousands of dollars in profits they raise to help keep Camp Paquatuck operational. Though the number increases every year, this year they were able to raise about $250,000.

“They are an incredible group of dedicated women who will go to all lengths to raise money for the camp,” said Steve Kronman, camp board president, noting that without them, the camp’s budget wouldn’t go very far.

For more information, to donate, or to join the group visit: www.paquatucksquaws.com/.