The holiday season is a time to be helpful, compassionate and kind. It is also one of the most popular times of the year to give back and help those in need. But for Margie Corradina, generosity is shown year rou
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Corradina, a South Farmingdale resident, has been volunteering for five years with Island Harvest, the largest hunger relief program on Long Island.
“I began volunteering due to the terrible turn of events in the housing market,” she said. “My thought was if people could no longer afford mortgages, then maybe there might be trouble getting food on the table.”
Corradina began collecting food and donations outside supermarkets. She then became a captain with Island Harvest and a year later, took on the task of doing food rescues during the summer.
“I enjoyed this opportunity because you see firsthand food donated and dropped immediately to an agency in need,” she said.
Island Harvest president Randi Shubin Dresner says that volunteers are an essential part of the organization’s mission.
“Volunteers are an extension of our staff. The only way we could get into the community as deeply as we do is because of the support of our volunteers,” Shubin Dresner said.
She says that in any given week, there are 300-400 volunteers working with Island Harvest. In 2013, they logged 70,000 hours of service. And volunteers are able to help in a variety of ways, using their specific skill sets.
“Many of our volunteers help pick up and deliver food, there are many others who help with their professional skills like graphic design, marketing, legal talents. We have all sorts of different tasks for the skills we have,” Shubin Dresner said.
For Corradina—who is also a member of the speaker’s bureau— it’s about educating others about the impact of hunger on Long Island.
“I love speaking to young children who know the feeling of hunger every day before every meal,” said Corradina. “They begin to understand that money has limits and sometimes there is not enough to go around to buy food, especially for individuals (like seniors and veterans) and families with fixed incomes.”
Corradina has recently been helping to set up drives and educating her fellow volunteers, but she will do anything asked of her at the drop of a hat.
“The feeling that you get inside when you help someone is unmatched by any other activity. I grew up just above the poverty level and there were times I was hungry,” said Corradina, who counts her blessings at how her life has turned out. “I feel it is an obligation that whenever you are able, that you give your time, money, whatever you can because there is always someone less fortunate who can use the help.”
Island Harvest is always looking for volunteers. If you’d like to get involved or find out more information, check out www.islandharvest.org.
