Island Harvest/Elected Officials to Host Bipartisan Food Drive

Addressing the 47 percent increase in food insecurity among people in Nassau and Suffolk counties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, elected leaders from both political parties join forces with Island Harvest Food Bank hosting a food collection event across Long Island on April 23 & 24 and April 30. According to Randi Shubin Dresner, president & CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank, the food drive is expected to be the first and most extensive food collection of its kind involving uniting Long Island’s elected officials.

“This food collection event is the first of its kind on Long Island, bringing elected officials from both major political parties together at one time in a bipartisan manner to help solve food insecurity,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president & CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank. “We hope that Long Islanders, too, will come together and help support their neighbors struggling to put food on their tables.”

A significant decline in donated food to support local feeding programs, including the cancellation of the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food drive, which has typically yielded more than half-million pounds of food, has placed additional strain on the region’s food bank since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Island Harvest Food Bank has been on the frontline in assisting approximately 600,000 families on Long Island, adversely impacted by the economic calamity created by the pandemic by providing supplemental food support, benefits assistance, and other help to those affected.

Long Islanders can do their part by donating nonperishable food items, including canned goods, cereal, pasta, rice, boxed juices, and shelf-stable milk (please, no glass items). Personal care items, including baby wipes, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant, are also welcome. Pet food is also accepted.

All the food collections event will be contactless and drive-through.

On Friday, April 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., collections will take place in Suffolk County at:

• Riverhead Free Library, 330 Court St., Riverhead, NY 11901
• Holtsville Roe YMCA, 155 Buckley Rd., Holtsville, NY 11742
• Patchogue Family YMCA, 55 W Main St., Patchogue, NY 11772
• Rogers Memorial Library, 91 Coopers Farm Rd., Southampton, NY 11968

On Saturday, April 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., collections will take place in Suffolk County at:

• West Babylon Public Library, 211 Route109, West Babylon, NY 11704
• Sayville Library, 88 Greene Ave., Sayville, NY 11782
• Half Hollow Hills Community Library, Melville Branch, 510 Sweet Hollow Rd., Melville, NY 11747
• Huntington Public Library, Station Branch, 1335 New York Ave., Huntington Station, NY 11746

On Friday, April 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., collections will take place in Nassau County at:

• Town of North Hempstead Beach Park, 175 W Shore Rd., Port Washington, NY 11050
• Wantagh Public Library, 3285 Park Ave., Wantagh, NY 11793
• Mid-Island Y JCC, 45 Manetto Hill Rd., Plainview, NY 11803
• Barry & Florence Friedberg JCC, 15 Neil Ct., Oceanside, NY 11572
• The Leon Campo Salisbury Center, 718 The Plain Rd., Westbury, NY 11590

Food donations may also be delivered to the district offices of their locally elected officials. Please contact your elected representative for locations and hours. Additional information about the food drive can be found at www.islandharvest.org or by calling 631-873-4775.