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Bancroft, who passed away suddenly in November, 2011 was a resident of Mount Kisco for 54 years. He owned a Mount Kisco company, MarGraphics, for 30 years, was a Chappaqua Transportation employee for 20 years and a Union Hook and Ladder Co., No. 1 member for 43 years.
For 15 years, Bancroft was a major force in the church kitchen preparing the dinner, which will be held from noon to 3 p.m on Thanksgiving Day, in the church’s parish hall. This year, Bancroft was honored posthumously by the Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce, receiving their Lifetime Commitment Recognition Award, and Mayor Michael Cindrich proclaimed May 12, 2012 Martin E. Bancroft Day.
Another Mount Kisco mainstay, Don Ford of J.H. Crane & Son Furniture, has also been a longtime organizer of the event, which pulls in volunteers from among St. Mark’s parishioners and residents of Mount Kisco and surrounding communities to donate food, prepare and serve the meal and clean up afterward. Sara Amuso, Marty’s life partner, and family members will carry on the tradition of running the kitchen this year.
“Anybody who is in the area and would like to have dinner is welcome to stop in between noon and three o’clock,” said Paula Maiorano, who is running the food outreach portion of the event, coordinating volunteers to prepare and deliver a holiday meal to the homebound, which, among others, includes close to 50 seniors, disabled individuals, and those suffering from illness.
In terms of the volunteer population, some are parishioners and some are volunteers from the community, said Maiorano, who is Mount Kisco's deputy village manager.
Maiorano, who worked at the dinner with Bancroft for four years, said some of those receiving meals at home normally spend their days at the Mount Kisco senior center, but the center is closed for the day. While some recipients come from Mount Kisco, there are also recipients from Bedford, Chappaqua and Millwood.
For questions, call St. Mark's, at 85 E. Main St., at 914-666-0858 or contact Barbara Leonard at 914-649-3918 or at barbaraleonard@optonline. Those who would like a meal delivered can sign up until Wednesday by contacting Maiorano at pmaiorano17@optonline.net or 914-830-3373.
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