Hauppauge, NY - April 19, 2016 - NBTY, a global manufacturer, marketer, distributor and retailer of market-leading vitamins, supplements, and sports and active nutrition products, has provided $20,000 in support of Island Harvest Food Bank’s “Students Feeding Students” challenge. The initiative promotes hunger awareness among schoolchildren in participating schools throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, while serving as a fund- and food-raiser for Island Harvest. It is consistent with NBTY’s commitment to social responsibility and its efforts in promoting wellness.
Island Harvest’s Students Feeding Students initiative is designed for students who want to have a positive impact on eliminating hunger in their communities. This campaign not only teaches the value of giving back to the community, the funds it raises support Island Harvest’s anti-hunger programs, which address the issue of childhood hunger, and include the Kids Weekend Backpack Feeding Program, Summer Food Service Program, and other food collection and distribution programs.
Students Feeding Students is a competitive program in which the three schools that raise the most food and funds will be acknowledged by Island Harvest at a special ceremony, and awarded a trophy to display proudly at the school. The Students Feeding Students project is also ideal to fulfill bar/bat mitzvah requirements, community service projects, Scouting merit badge requirements, and other projects that require a good deed.
“Island Harvest is grateful for the ongoing support from NBTY in recognizing the critical issue of hunger on Long Island, especially among children,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank. “NBTY’s generous funding will help provide children at risk of hunger with nutritious food that in turn promotes overall good health, and enhances students’ ability to develop physically and educationally.”
“Working to eliminate childhood hunger while simultaneously providing opportunities for other children to learn the importance of helping others is good for all involved,” said Sonya Soutus, Senior Vice President, Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer at NBTY . “NBTY is committed to helping promote wellness in all forms. While many people associate wellness with fitness and general health, it also pertains to the ability to fulfill a need as basic as having a meal on the table. We could not be happier to support such a worthwhile initiative.”
At present, there are 83 schools participating in the Students Feeding Students campaign across Long Island. Students Feeding Students runs through the end of the school year. For more information, or to register your school, contact Doreen Principe, Community Resources & Food Drive Specialist, at 631-873-4775, extension 208, or email.
About Hunger on Long Island
Hunger is a state in which people do not get enough food to provide the nutrients for active and healthy lives. It can result from the recurrent and involuntary lack of access to food. More than 316,000 Long Islanders face the risk of hunger every day, according to Island Harvest and Feeding America, a national hunger-relief organization. They are often adults working two jobs, children, seniors and veterans who cannot always make ends meet, and are often forced to go without food. Approximately 70,000 individuals seek food assistance in Nassau and Suffolk counties each week through soup kitchens, food pantries and other feeding programs served by Island Harvest.
About Island Harvest Food Bank
Island Harvest Food Bank is a leading hunger-relief organization that provides food and other resources to people in need. Always treating those it helps with dignity and respect, its goal is to end hunger and reduce poverty on Long Island through efficient food collection and distribution; enhanced hunger-awareness and nutrition-education programs; job training; and direct services targeted at children, senior citizens, veterans and others at risk. Approximately 94 cents of every dollar donated to Island Harvest goes to programs that support more than 316,000 Long Islanders. Island Harvest is a lead agency in the region’s emergency-response preparedness for food and product distribution, and is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. More information can be found at www.islandharvest.org.
About NBTY
NBTY has enriched the lives of consumers around the world by introducing innovative products and solutions to the health and wellness marketplace for more than 40 years. Our ongoing mission to deliver the highest quality nutritional supplements and wellness products has resulted in an extensive portfolio of well-known and trusted brands, including Nature’s Bounty®, Sundown Naturals®, Osteo Bi-Flex®, Solgar®, Balance Bar®, MET-Rx®, Pure Protein®, Body Fortress®, Puritan’s Pride®, Holland & Barrett®, De Tuinen®, and many others. As a leading global manufacturer, marketer, distributor and retailer of market-leading vitamins and nutritional supplements, NBTY is committed to supporting wellness by creating products that consumers want and making them easily available anywhere they shop. Learn more about our wellness vision and industry-leading products at www.nbty.com.