Southeast Restaurant Takes 'Comfort Food' to New Level

When a local nonprofit asked the Aversano brothers if they would be willing to help families fighting cancer, the decision was a no-brainer.

That was in 2010. Since then, John and Paul, the owners and operators of Aversano’s Restaurant in Southeast, have donated countless pizza pies, salads and entrees to folks throughout Putnam County and Northern Westchester. Their business is one of many that works with , a Mahopac-based organization that aims to lend a hand to families who have a loved one diagnosed with cancer.

The support the nonprofit provides comes in the form of everyday things — volunteers arrange meal deliveries, facilitate laundry drop-offs and pickups, and schedule visits from house-cleaning businesses. Oftentimes, these services fall on a day when the patient is undergoing treatment.

Director Amy Sayegh said that Community Cares’ first Southeast client was a young father-of-two, fighting brain cancer. At the time, Sayegh was looking to find a restaurant to commit to two meals per month. She didn’t have to look far for that commitment. Aversano’s was her first try, and John and Paul agreed.

“They were very receptive,” she recalled. “…Since then, we have had others in the area, and they are always willing to help out.”

John and Paul said their answer to Amy’s inquiry didn’t require much thought — they told her “absolutely.” As business owners in Southeast for the last 25 years, they try to give back to the community whenever they have the opportunity, whether that’s supplying a gift certificate for a fundraiser or assisting a family going through a hardship.

“Sometimes, it’s just showing people that they’re not alone,” John said. “One day you hope, God forbid, if something happens to you, someone would be willing to help.”

When Amy calls, John and Paul say they’re glad to whip up whatever she needs, whether it’s for that night or next week. They never know who receives the meals, as volunteers pickup the takeout and drop it off, but they’re confident that the connection can’t be too far off.

“Somewhere along the line, someone knows them,” John said.

“It’s a small community,” Paul said, nodding in agreement with his brother.

Community Cares’ latest Southeast client, who preferred to remain unnamed for the sake of his family’s privacy, can vouch for that. He said that he and his wife, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in October, will be forever grateful to Aversano’s.

The family frequented the restaurant before cancer hit, and they appreciate the comfort food now more than ever. The days when they can sit around the table, chow down on a just-delivered pizza and see their 4-year-old smile over her favorite food serve as a brief reprieve for the couple. They’re also taking care of 11-month-old twin girls.

“This happened at a rather difficult time in our lives,” the father-of-three told Patch. “The fact that there are people who want to give something back is just tremendous … I hope that months from now, we can give back, too.”

Without businesses like Aversano’s, the Southeast resident said, organizations such as Community Cares could “never do what they do.”

With no government backing, the organization operates entirely off of donations and revenue from fundraisers. At the moment, 11 families with a total of about 30 kids, are relying on Community Cares, and its donors. In Southeast, that list, which started with Aversano’s, now includes and Thru the Wringer laundromat.

“Everyone wants to help out their neighbor,” she said. “That's what this organization is about, neighbors helping neighbors in their time of need.” 

The Aversano brothers plan to continue their donations for as long as Community Cares needs. For them, giving back to others is just part of being community members.

“I definitely would encourage others to do the same,” John said.