New Initiative Started To Provide Food To LI Artists

LONG ISLAND, NY — A group of local art and music businesses recently teamed up to start a new program to help Long Island entertainers in need due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, along with Mulcahy's Pub & Concert Hall, The John W. Engeman Theater, and Looney Tunes Records in West Babylon, will all be participating in the new Music Box of Meals program.

The initiative will provide food courtesy of Long Island Cares - The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank to local musicians, performers, actors, stagehands, and others in the music and entertainment industry.

The program is open to all Long Island residents in the entertainment and music industries.

The pre-packed food boxes will be distributed at the following locations:

• Mulcahy's Concert Hall and Pub - 3232 Railroad Ave, Wantagh, NY 11793
• Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts - 71 East Main Street, Patchogue, NY 11772
• John W. Engeman Theatre - 250 Main Street, Northport, NY 11968
• Looney Tunes Records - 31 Brookvale Ave, West Babylon, NY 11704

The entertainment industry took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic as many venues remained closed for the better part of a year, impacting the local entertainers.

As a result, Long Island Cares established the Music Industry Council, made up of members of the music and entertainment industries, to carry out the vision of their founder, the late singer and songwriter, Harry Chapin.

During a recent meeting, the committee came up with the initiative while discussing ways to address the ongoing concerns and needs of local out-of-work artists.

The pre-packed food boxes will be given out at the following locations and the program is open to residents of Long Island in the entertainment and music industries.