Councilwoman Edwards mobilizes effort to help 80 food-challenged youngsters
Responding to a call to action from Huntington Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards, a large roster of community-based organizations and the Stop & Shop supermarket chain have mobilized to gather food and donate it to help 80 youngsters enrolled in a Tri-CYA program whose weekends were food challenged.
Councilwoman Edwards was recently made aware of the situation by Tri-CYA, the private, not-for-profit community based organization dedicated to supporting the growth and development of youth and their families in Huntington, South Huntington and Cold Spring Harbor. Councilwoman Edwards was told that the 80 children were receiving meals while attending Tri-CYA programs during the week, but were food challenged during the weekends when they were home. Councilwoman Edwards then reached out to the network of organizations, who responded quickly, as did Stop & Shop.
“Thank you to Stop and Shop and all the service organizations in our community. This is an example of what we can do when we all work together on a common goal,” Councilwoman Edwards said at an event announcing the donations at the Stop & Shop on Jericho Turnpike in Huntington.
“Stop & Shop is pleased that our efforts can provide food and nourishment to youngsters in need,” said Cindy Carrasquilla, Manager of Public Relations and Community Relations for Stop & Shop New York Metro. “It is our privilege to lend assistance to those in the Huntington community who make sure that children are cared for.” Stop & Shop provided milk, cream cheese, butter, vegetables, fresh fruit and kid favorites such as hotdogs, soup, macaroni, ravioli, Lunchables, Pop Tarts and juice.
Participating service organizations and companies included: Townwide Fund of Huntington, Leadership Huntington, American Legion Greenlawn Post 1244, Boy Scouts of America, Suffolk County Girl Scouts, Huntington Community First Aid Squad, Commack Volunteer Ambulance Squad, Huntington Public Library, South Huntington Public Library, Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, YMCA of Huntington, Kiwanis, HORC leadership Council, Workforce Development Institute, NAACP, Huntington Station BID, Suffolk County Department of Labor, The Lions Club, Rotary Club, The Loyal Order of the Moose, St. Joseph’s College, Get 2 Work, National Grid, PSEG Long Island, the law firm Harras, Bloom & Archer, Dale Carnegie & Associates, The Money Source Inc., Moonjumpers, and various individual residents.
“Our children and their families are most appreciative of Stop & Shop’s assistance,” said Debbie Rimler, executive director of Tri-CYA. “I am very grateful that all these groups have banded together to address food insecurity over the weekends. This donation will make a huge difference in many households and for many youths. Thank you so much.”
“Summer Hunger is a serious issue here on Long Island and we are pleased that Stop & Shop has stepped up to help this great organization,” said Robin Amato, the Chief Development Officer of Long Island Cares Inc. The Harry Chapin Food Bank. “Moving forward we will be talking to the Tri-CYA about utilizing our Children’s Breakfast Food Trucks to ensure that these children have nutritious weekend meals all year round.”
According to Feeding America’s most recent Hunger Study, 39 percent of Long Islanders who receive emergency food are children under 18 years old. While children are among the largest single population of hungry, they have virtually no voice; their needs are easily dismissed and overlooked, and they must rely on others to access the feeding programs and services they need.