New York State Senator Kemp Hannon and Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest, Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization, call upon the generosity of all Long Islanders to help those in need enjoy a brighter, more nutritious holiday season and to keep food pantries stocked throughout the winter months ahead.
High unemployment and home foreclosures force many Long Islanders to seek emergency food assistance through the organizations served by Island Harvest, several of which have reported sharp increases in the demand for food assistance. A recent federal report found that 49 million Americans lack dependable access to adequate food, the highest number since the government began keeping track. On Long Island, nearly 300,000 men, women and children face hunger each day.
Items needed include frozen turkeys, supermarket turkey coupons, canned goods, non-perishable food items, powdered milk, baby formula, personal care items, supermarket gift cards or cash. Non-perishable items can be dropped off at Hannon’s district office located at 224 Seventh Street, second floor in Garden City. For a complete listing of drop-off sites and food drives, call Island Harvest at 294-8528, or visit www.islandharvest.org.
Fighting hunger and touching lives, Island Harvest serves as the bridge between those who have surplus food and those who need it, supplying hundreds of community-based nonprofit organizations on Long Island with critical food support to help stem the advancing tide of hunger in our communities. Island Harvest has delivered more than 60 million pounds of food, supplementing nearly 47 million meals, since its inception in 1992. In support of its mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island, the organization is actively involved in educational and hunger awareness programs to inform the public about the insidious but often unrecognized problem of hunger here, in one of the wealthiest regions of the country, and how individuals, businesses, schools and commercial food establishments can make a difference. Island Harvest is a member of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest). For more information about Island Harvest, visit www.islandharvest.org or call 294-8528.
