LI Legislators Are Going to the Dogs to Support Long Island Cares
Long Island, NY - February 4, 2014 - A number of state and local legislators are figuratively going to the dogs by hosting a pet food drive to collect dog and cat food to support Baxter's Pet Pantry at Long Island Cares, Inc. Since 2009, Long Island Cares, Inc. - The Harry Chapin Food Bank has delivered more than 500,000 pounds of dog and cat food, as well as a variety of pet products to its network of 590 community-based member agencies. The Pet Pantry is supported by donations from the pet food industry and generous Long Island pet lovers. No agency funds are used in providing this unique service. According to Elana Sissons, Food Drive Coordinator, "The purpose of distributing pet food to families in need is to avoid having pets placed in shelters or abandoned because families might be having difficulty in securing pet food."
The following legislators have already joined Long Island Cares in scheduling a pet food drive anywhere from February 1 - March 31, 2014 at their district offices:
NYS Senator Dean G. Skelos
NYS Senator John Flanagan
NYS Senator Philip Boyle
NYS Assemblyman Joseph Saladino
NYS Assemblyman David McDonough
Suffolk Legislator Monica Martinez
Nassau Legislator Dave Denenberg
Suffolk Legislator John M. Kennedy
Nassau Legislator Richard Nicolello
Suffolk Legislator Chad Lupinacci
Nassau Legislator Norma Gonsalves
Suffolk Legislator Laura Schaefer
People wanting to donate pet food can contact their state or local legislator's district office, or they can purchase a special pet food gift bag at any PETCO store location on Long Island. Donations can also be made at any of Long Island Cares' three locations: Hauppauge; Freeport, and Lindenhurst. For more information please email Elana Sissons at: esissons@licares.org or call (631) 582-3663
About Long Island Cares, Inc.
Long Island Cares, Inc. - The Harry Chapin Food Bank is Long Island's first food bank: serving the hungry on Long Island since, 1980. Long Island Cares brings together all available resources for the benefit of the hungry on Long Island and provides emergency food where and when it is needed, and sponsors a wide variety of innovate direct service programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency. The organization was founded by the late singer, Grammy Award winning songwriter and social activist Harry Chapin in response to the growing issue of hunger on Long Island. It is continued today by his wife and partner Sandy Chapin, a dedicated Board of Directors and talented staff working out of their 35,000 square foot facility in Hauppauge and their storefront hunger assistance centers in Freeport and Lindenhurst. Long Island Cares is a member agency of the Food Bank Association of New York State and Feeding America. Long Island Cares, Inc. is recognized by the NYS Department of Health and the USDA as the regional food bank for Long Island.