LongIsland.com

NY Islanders Help Stop & Shop Donate 2,000 Turkeys to Long Island's Two Food Banks

Written by Chris Boyle  |  08. November 2021

The New York Islanders partnered with Stop & Shop on its annual Turkey Express program as the supermarket donated 1,000 Thanksgiving turkeys each to Island Harvest Food Bank and Long Island Cares, Inc.- The Harry Chapin Food Bank.
 
Several Islanders alumni assisted in the donation - Huntington resident and NHL Hall of Famer, Clark Gillies; Brightwaters resident and Islander defenseman, Eric Cairns; and Steve Webb, a former Islanders forward and Suffolk County resident.  Also helping offload the Thanksgiving turkeys to the food banks were the team’s mascot, Sparky, and Monte, the Islanders NEW Puppy with a Purpose.
 
According to the two food banks, 1 in 6 children on Long Island are food insecure with childhood food insecurity rates on Long Island increasing by 26% as compared to pre-pandemic levels. Both food banks serve approximately 300,000 individuals on Long Island each year.
 
“Stop & Shop is thankful for the Islanders and their alumni who joined our effort to help the food banks address hunger on Long Island,” said Stefanie Shuman, Stop & Shop’s External Communications Manager for Long Island. “We know that food insecurity remains a challenge and Stop & Shop is proud to support the food banks’ efforts to deliver hundreds of thousands of meals to our neighbors who need them the most.”
 
“The Islanders are proud to partner with Stop & Shop on the Turkey Express program. Every family should have access to providing a Thanksgiving meal for their family, and this initiative will help those who are struggling with food insecurity,” said Ann Rina, Senior Director of Community Relations.  “Our friends at Island Harvest and Long Island Cares play an instrumental role in the distribution process and we can’t thank them enough for their efforts.”
 
“Stop & Shop and the New York Islanders are valued partners supporting many of our efforts to reduce the numbers of Long Islanders experiencing hunger and food insecurity,” said Paule Pachter, Chief Executive Officer at Long Island Cares, Inc. .- The Harry Chapin Food Bank. “Their generous donations this year will go a long way in helping many families enjoy the holidays.”
 
“Hunger is a year-round problem on Long Island that has unfortunately increased because of the pandemic and the region’s high cost of living. However, no one should experience the harsh reality of hunger, especially children,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president & CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank. “We are grateful to Stop & Shop and the New York Islanders for their generosity and longstanding partnership in helping to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors struggling to feed their families, not just during the holidays, but throughout the year.”
 
Stop & Shop’s Turkey Express program will deliver more than 21,500 turkeys to hunger relief organizations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island this holiday season.

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