Long Island’s largest food drive event, the seventh annual Bethpage Turkey Drive to benefit Island Harvest Food Bank, will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s headquarters located at 899 South Oyster Bay Rd. in Bethpage.
Long Islanders are asked to drop off frozen turkeys, non-perishable food items (except those in glass containers), supermarket gift cards or cash donations. These donations will go directly to Island Harvest which will then help supply Thanksgiving holiday meals to the more than 300,000 hungry Long Islanders through its distribution network of 570 food pantries, soup kitchens and other feeding programs on Long Island.
“Bethpage Federal Credit Union is an avid supporter of Island Harvest and its mission to end hunger on Long Island,” said Linda Armyn, senior vice president, Bethpage. “For the past six years, the annual Bethpage Turkey Drive has had an immensely positive impact on the Long Island community, who year after year come out to help their neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Participation provides parents and children the opportunity to help a less fortunate family celebrate the holidays with a Thanksgiving meal – a meal they may have otherwise not have been able to provide.”
For those unable to travel to Bethpage’s main branch on Nov. 18, Nassau and Suffolk County residents can visit any of Bethpage’s 33 branch locations to drop off any cash donations you may have. For a complete list of Bethpage branches, go to www.lovebethpage.com.
Since the first Bethpage Turkey Drive was organized in 2009, hundreds of community volunteers have come out to assist in the collection of approximately 23,000 turkeys and more than 74,000 pounds of food, which were then provided to Long Island families facing hardship in time for the holidays. Island Harvest has seen an increase in the requests for food and support services among the 570 community-based agencies it serves. About 70,000 individuals receive food assistance from the Island Harvest network each week.
Since 1992, Island Harvest has grown to become the largest hunger relief organization in the region, feeding and supporting 316,000 Long Islanders annually, helping to change the lives of millions. By relying on volunteers, in-kind services, and donated food, more than 94 cents of every dollar donated to Island Harvest directly benefits Island Harvest’s robust programs and initiatives.
With a mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island, Island Harvest has pioneered innovative and effective food and product collection and distribution systems, hunger awareness and nutrition education programs, job training programs, services for targeted populations, and outreach and advocacy initiatives. Island Harvest is the region’s leading agency in disaster relief and emergency response readiness for food and product distribution, support and services. Island Harvest is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity.
“The generous support and ongoing cooperation of leading Long Island companies is helping to make a positive impact in the lives of our Long Island neighbors facing hunger every day,” Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO, Island Harvest. “I know I speak on behalf of the 316,000 Long Islanders in need in thanking these organization’s leadership and employees for demonstrating how much they truly care.”
