Stop & Shop Donates 5 Tons of Fresh Produce to Assist LI Seniors

Last week, Stop & Shop made a donation of five tons of fresh produce to Long Island Cares, Inc. to assist seniors facing food insecurity. The fresh fruits and vegetables was distributed to seniors at the Long Beach Housing Authority Apartments and thirty other sites across Long Island.

Stop & Shop’s donation included apples, bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, watermelon, pineapple, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, onions, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes. The fresh produce provided by Stop & Shop will accompany a pre-packaged bag of nonperishable food, containing a three-day supply or nine meals, which is provided by Long Island Cares, Inc.

As of December 1st, there was effectively no Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provider for Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program works to improve the health of low-income elderly persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods. The previous CSFP provider for Long Island noted that this program was serving approximately 4,000 Long Island Seniors via the distribution of food packages to seniors at participating senior centers.

Since December 1st, Long Island Cares has effectively and frequently collaborated with the New York State Department of Health to address this issue and generate lasting solutions. Last month, a New York City CSFP provider started distributing to Nassau County seniors in various communities, and Long Island Cares Inc. was awarded a temporary emergency contract to expand nutrition and outreach services to impacted seniors through March.

“Stop & Shop is pleased to support the efforts of Long Island Cares as they assist Long Islanders in need,” said Stefanie Shuman, Stop & Shop’s External Communications Manager. “We’re proud to work together to support the senior community and end hunger across Long Island.”

Dr. Jessica Rosati, Chief Program Officer for Long Island Cares, Inc. said, “We are extremely grateful to our corporate partners at Stop & Shop who are stepping forward to assist our seniors. Stop & Shop’s generosity will allow the regional food bank to provide 10,000 pounds of additional fresh produce to seniors in need.”