Scott has always believed in the power of family and community, and his dedication to preserving his family's land in Eastport, NY, is a testament to that. His family being one of the first to settle on Long Island dating back to when Southampton first became a town. Over the years, the land has seen better days but Scott has recently took ownership of the property and is pouring his heart into restoring it, determined to keep it in the family and honor its legacy despite the challenges he faces ahead. Not only does he want to restore it to give his family a forever home but being that the property is coded for commercial use he wants to create a place where the community can gather and create wonderful memories. This includes creating a local free dog park and a general store/coffee shop that will not only sell the best coffee on the island but eco friendly products created locally that are not only good for your health and support local businesses but also gives back to the community that supports it by hosting speak easies, open mics, comedy nights, and youth nights, all free of charge. A big goal aside from what was already listed is to reclaim the church and restore it, create a vintage inexpensive thrift store, create subsidized housing and to once a year have one of the biggest kid friendly festivals Eastport has ever seen. With your help we can make this dream come true.

Despite facing overwhelming financial burdens—including a mounting mortgage, property taxes, and debts left by his father—Scott continues to work tirelessly. He’s taken on the responsibility of caring for both his parents: his father, whose health is rapidly declining, and his mother, who is battling cancer and has just had her ninth surgery and relies on a wheelchair. On top of this, Scott is constantly worried about the safety of the property. Without a fence, the land has been vulnerable to trespassers and theft, and ongoing harassment from family members trying to sell the house from under him, tearing up landscaping he has worked hard on and stealing items because their easy access to walk onto the property has only added to the stress. Installing a fence and a camera system would bring much-needed peace of mind, allowing Scott to protect the animals he cares for—chickens, ducks, turkeys, a dog, and two cats—and to sleep at night without fear or stress of someone unwelcome coming onto the property and destroying all the hard work he has been putting into it.

Scott’s vision for the land goes beyond just keeping it in the family. He dreams of reviving the old church on the property, a place the community remembers fondly. He’s already cleaned up the church grounds, landscaped overgrown areas, and created a safe space for the animals, even starting a pond and a garden. Every holiday, he wants to start lighting the giant Christmas tree in the front yard, hoping to make it a tradition for future generations to do as a community gathering event. Scott’s commitment is unwavering, but the financial and emotional toll is immense. Your support will help cover urgent expenses like the mortgage, property taxes, a secure fence, and essential repairs—giving Scott the chance to continue his family’s legacy and build a safe welcoming home for years to come and a safe and welcome for all in the community to gather and create long lasting memories.