L.I.G.H.T. FOR CHARITY (“Long Island Giving Help Together For Charity”) is my newspaper column where I highlight a different Long Island-based charity each month. My goal is to shine a light on the amazing organizations in our community that work so hard to help others and make a real difference.
This column was started by my sister, Kayla, and I’m so proud of her for everything she has accomplished. Her passion for helping others and her dedication to our community have truly inspired me.
She created something meaningful that has positively impacted so many people across Long Island. As she now prepares for college, I’m excited to build on the strong foundation she created. I would like to thank Kayla for inspiring me. I promise to carry L.I.G.H.T. FOR CHARITY forward with the same heart and dedication you always had.
For this month’s column, I’m putting the spotlight on Rock CAN Roll, Inc., a non-profit organization with a great name and an even greater purpose.
Rock CAN Roll collaborates with rock concerts, schools, corporations, and individuals to collect healthy, non-perishable food and basic necessities. These donations are distributed to local agencies and directly to children, seniors, and families facing hunger and poverty. The charity’s slogan says it best: “Help Out While You ROCK OUT!”
Aimee Holtzman founded Rock CAN Roll to combine her love of rock and roll music with her desire to help others. The charity’s first initiative supported people in Honduras who were devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. She started the charity with a plan to collect just a few boxes of supplies from neighbors and ship them to a friend in Honduras.
Then, the charity quickly grew into something far greater. Today, Rock CAN Roll collaborates with some of the biggest names in rock music and major venues to secure nutritious food donations for people and pets in need.
Rock CAN Roll partners with local schools and students. Through its “Schools That Rock” kits, the organization educates kids about hunger while offering fun projects with meaningful social impact.
Another project, “Rock CAN Shop!,” gives volunteers the opportunity to shop for others. Volunteers are given funds, totes, and a ‘wish list’ from a local food pantry. This hands-on experience teaches students how to budget, compare prices, negotiate, and better understand the true cost and nutritional value of food. Rock CAN Roll also has a “Pets rock!” program for people to donate nutritious pet foods. The charity provides pet food to emergency food agencies.
You can support Rock CAN Roll through financial donations, purchasing merchandise, or volunteering. Volunteer opportunities include contacting groups to join events, providing services (such as legal, accounting, public relations or fundraising), or working at an event. If you’re interested, you can fill out a volunteer application on Rock CAN Roll’s website.
To learn more, please visit Rock CAN Roll’s website at www.rockcanroll.org.
Jenna Donnenfeld is a freshman at Roslyn High School.
