If you live on Long Island, you can donate food to local food pantries or nonprofits that help those in need. Long Island Cares, a nonprofit organization, always needs volunteers, especially for its Harry Chapin Food Bank. Volunteers can help with fundraising, distribution, and sorting the donated food. A food drive is scheduled for Nov. 17 in Commack from 5 am-7 pm. Donations can also be made at the organization’s year-round donation box.
St. Louis de Montfort
The food pantry at St. Louis de Montfort is a community service that helps the needy on Long Island. It was founded over 25 years ago, and the church has seen more families seeking assistance. The parish’s outreach director, Jane Guido, says that the need for aid has increased as the economy has declined.
Mary’s devotion is the habit of total consecration to Jesus through Mary. It is an inner and exterior life of constant dependence on Mary. This consecration appears as a mustard seed but grows stronger with regular practice. It is an act of blessing and requires a great deal of prayer.
Smithtown Food Pantry
Located in Smithtown, New York, the Smithtown Food Pantry is a free food pantry that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The pantry is run by volunteers who dedicate their time to helping those in need. In addition to serving residents, the pantry also serves people in need of emergency food supplies.
To get to the Smithtown Food Pantry, take public transportation. The closest bus stop is W Main St/Arthur Dr. Moovit has free maps and real-time arrival times, allowing you to plan your trip to the Smithtown Food Pantry easily. In addition, Moovit lets you purchase a transit pass, saving you money on bus fares and time.
During the recent pandemic, residents could not drop off supplies for the food pantry. However, the emergency food pantry accepted grocery store gift cards and monetary donations. The pantry is planning to keep the gift card program alive and offers an actual shopping experience for patrons at the Food Pantry. To do this, Pat Westlake and the Enspire Design Group are developing design plans. You can find out more about the pantry by visiting its website.
Harry Chapin Food Bank
If you’re in the mood for a good cause, consider donating to the Harry Chapin Food Bank on Long Island. Established in 1980 by Harry Chapin, this organization brings together community resources to help the hungry on Long Island. It provides emergency food to needy people, supports programs to help struggling families achieve self-sufficiency, and educates the public about hunger.
King Kullen’s annual “Check Out Hunger” campaign raised over $25,000 for the Long Island Cares/Harry Chapin Food Bank. The campaign is a partnership between Long Island Cares and the shopping community, and all proceeds go directly to the organization.
Lighthouse Mission
The Long Island Largest Mobile Food Pantry (LILMFP) donates food and hope to residents of Suffolk County who are struggling with hunger. Among its many services are:
- A weekly mobile food outreach to Suffolk County neighborhoods.
- Saturday “Mission Kids” programs for underprivileged children.
- After-school programs for at-risk youth.
The mission uses donations from local businesses and nonprofit organizations to serve the hungry on Long Island. Currently, the organization operates three mobile food pantries that travel across Suffolk County weekly. During these trips, volunteers serve 3,000 meals each week. The mobile food pantry has been a staple in Long Island communities for over 50 years.
Additionally, the mission has a community room where kids can gather for warm meals and activities. They also hold events for children and offer reading and homework help. Children are encouraged to participate in these activities, which guest speakers often lead. The mission also helps homeless and underprivileged children and their families.
In addition to food, the mission provides clothing and shoes for the homeless. While it can’t give every item a needy individual might need, it does offer many essential things. Many children who visit the church come from the local homeless shelter in Yaphank. To facilitate their transportation, the mission has two 12-passenger vans donated by local businessmen.
LI Cares is another nonprofit organization in Long Island that provides food and clothing to those struggling with hunger. Founded by Harry Chapin, LI Cares takes a holistic approach to hunger relief by partnering with hundreds of member affiliates. It also coordinates services for the homeless on Long Island. It also promotes awareness about homelessness and serves as a resource for those in need.
In addition to food and clothing, the mission also provides support services. For example, a freeport soup kitchen offers hot meals to the community and additional support services for those suffering from poverty and food insecurity. Another example is the Center for Family Support, which supports people with developmental disabilities in Queens, New York City, and New Jersey. Lastly, CARECEN helps protect the immigrant population on Long Island, providing legal services and a child refugee unit for unaccompanied children.
