Mexican Food Stars at Peconic Bay's Fundraiser

Annika Shapiro

Shaded by a tent under the bright September sun, 20 people enjoyed freshly prepared Mexican cuisine at the Wading River home of Annika Shapiro, president of Peconic Bay Zonta. She was joined by professional chef Julien Shapiro, her stepson (or "bonus" son, as she calls him), in demonstrating how to prepare each dish.

On the menu were delectable dishes: seven-layer Mexican dip, watermelon gazpacho, chorizo and corn, carne asada tacos, and salted Margarita bars. Peconic Bay members helped to serve and clean up.

The event was a great success, raising $1,300 for the local Zonta chapter. Participants took away recipes for each dish, plus tips for making them at home.

Peconic Bay is affiliated with Zonta International, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the status of women and girls through service and advocacy. The local club, which covers eastern Long Island, uses the funds to support scholarships to local women and girls. Peconic Bay also contributes to various charitable causes and groups that focus on helping females and their families.

President Shapiro spoke to the group about a critical project of Zonta International: ending child marriage. On July 22, 2021, New York became the sixth state in the national to ban child marriage, defined as marriage before the age of 18.

The majority of minors who become married are teenage girls. They are more likely to have early pregnancies, with complications during childbirth. They are are more likely to quit school, prolonging a cycle of poverty. President Shapiro encouraged all to support the end to child marriage here the U.S. and throughout the world.

These six states have banned underage marriages, with no exception: New Jersey (2018), Delaware (2018), Pennsylvania (2020), Minnesota (2020), Rhode Island (2021) and New York (2021). We have 44 states to go!