Island Harvest Food Bank estimates that a $25 donation can help them feed a family of four for up to four days.
Even before the economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis, 2.5 million working-age New Yorkers were struggling to make ends meet and now, the need is greater than ever and only getting worse. Island Harvest Food Bank estimates that since March it has provided over one million meals across Long Island. Along with its sister organization, City Harvest, they expect to rescue and deliver 25.2 million pounds of food to meet the growing demand between now and June 30.
Video of an Island Harvest employee explaining what the organization means to people. Video: Island Harvest Food Bank
As a part of the upcoming Giving Tuesday Now campaign, Island Harvest Food Bank is asking for donations for their Emergency Response Appeal. Their goal: to distribute over a million meals to those who were relying on food assistance before the crisis, and to those who have been affected by the economic impact of the pandemic.
Giving Tuesday Now is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on Tuesday, May 5. You might be familiar with the annual Giving Tuesday campaign that comes the Tuesday after Thanksgiving every year in December. This new campaign was launched as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by Covid-19. So far, Island harvest has collected almost $600,000 of its $750,000 goal.
You can donate to Island Harvest Food Bank by clicking here.
CEO Randi Shubin Dresner (left) and New York State Senator Anna Kaplan (right) lent a hand supplying food to 725 families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic in Elmont. Photo: Island Harvest Food Bank Facebook page.
Local organizations are heeding the call and stepping up to meet the challenge. The Long Island Board of REALTORS (LIBOR) recently announced that they will be contributing $10,000 to support community hunger relief programs in Queens, Brooklyn, Nassau and Suffolk Counties through Island Harvest and City Harvest. The contributions will be equally divided between the two organizations.
LIBOR President Matthew Arnold explained that the members of LIBOR are more than just home sellers.
“We live and work in the communities we serve, and we support those communities, especially in times of crisis,” he said in a statement. “Whether it’s rebuilding homes devastated by a natural disaster or feeding families suffering from hunger, we are committed to helping our neighbors in need.”
Farmingdale-based Bushwick Potato Commission donated 30,000 pounds of New York State-grown potatoes to help Long Island families struggling with food insecurity. Assemblyman Steve Stern was on hand to help with the donation. Pictured below are: Marc Suntup, VP Development, Island Harvest; Marc Turner, Director of Sales, Bushwick Potato Commission; Assemblyman Stern; and Ken Gray, VP, Sales and Marketing, Bushwick Potato Commission. Photo: Island Harvest Food Bank Facebook page.
LIBOR CEO Tessa Hult added that many households are now facing food insecurity for the first time ever during this crisis.
“Our contribution will provide some needed relief to those who need it most in our communities and will help families put meals on their tables.” Hultt said.
