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“Hunger in America” reported in2006 that over 259,000 Long Islanders, including 93,000 children,

 were at risk of going hungry eachday, turning to soup kitchens, foodpantries and emergency shelters forhelp with food. Since that reportthese numbers have increasedsignificantly. Hunger is affecting ever-wider sections of the working class, including two-parenthouseholds and the gainfully 

employed. The economic downturnhas changed the face of hunger onLong Island, leaving many low-income and even middle-class Long Islanders struggling for the firsttime.

 What many have in common isthe difficult choice of feeding theirfamilies or paying the rent, heating the house, or filling a prescription.More and more families on Long Island are finding themselvesaccessing food banks andemergency food programs. Thetrend is consistent with severalrecently released national studiesfinding that hunger is on the risedue to the worsening economy andis expected to continue through

much of next year. Thirty six percent of low-income householdsare eating less or skipping mealsbecause they don’t have enoughmoney for food, and 40% statedthat they were forced to choosebetween food and paying forutilities during the past year.

The leading organization

fighting hunger in our region isLong Island Cares, Inc. - The Harry Chapin Food Bank . It is Long Island’s first food bank and one of the region’s most comprehensivehunger action organizations.Founded in 1980 by the late singer,songwriter and social activist, Harry 

Chapin, the organization providesnutritional food and supportservices for a network of more than540 community-based memberagencies including food pantries,soup kitchens, emergency shelters,child care programs, seniornutrition sites, disability organizations, veteran’s services andmore. While the annualdistribution of nearly 6 millionpounds of nutritional food

 warehoused in their 27,000 squarefoot distribution center is at theheart of Long Island Cares’operations, it functions as morethan just a food bank. Long IslandCares provides a broad array of programs and services including hunger education, job training,supplemental food programs forchildren, school supplies, jobdevelopment, legislative advocacy,and a triage food pantry.

Responding to an increase inthe number of individuals andfamilies turning to food pantriesand food banks for assistance, LonIsland Cares - The Harry ChapinFood Bank recently opened anemergency food pantry at theircorporate headquarters in

Hauppauge. The First Stop FoodPantry serves as a triage pantry thaprovides individuals and families inneed with up to ten days worth of food, along with information aboucritical community resources suchas food stamps, Child Health Plus,

 WIC, heating and utility assistanceemployment resources, andmortgage assistance.

“The bottom is eroding from thsafety net for middle class families

on Long Island,” said Paule PachterExecutive Director. “With anincrease of between 25 and 45percent in the number of familiesturning to food pantries, soupkitchens and hunger relief organizations, we have no choicebut to expand the mission of Long Island Cares to serve peopledirectly,” Pachter added. “Long Island Cares has historically provided food to a network of 

By Pam Smith 

Fighting Hunger on Long Island Long Island Cares, Inc. - The Harry Chapin Food Ban

What many have in common is the

difficult choice of feeding their

families or paying the rent, heating

the house, or filling a prescription.

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16 | spring ‘08 | generations

community-based agencies, but with the increase in the number of people in need it just seems logicalto provide a triage service pantry before we refer people into thecommunity-based pantries, whichare often over-burdened andrunning low on food,” heconcluded.

Long Island Cares, Inc. - TheHarry Chapin Food Bank is animportant part of the Long Islandcommunity. It is continued today by Harry Chapin’s wife and partnerSandy Chapin along with adedicated Board of Directors andtalented staff working out of theirfacility in Hauppauge. While serving individuals and families in need,most of their success is due to thesupport and generosity they receivefrom Long Islanders of all ages and

backgrounds.Famous musicians have

supported Long Island Caresthrough various endeavors. PatBenatar, Bruce Springsteen andJudy Collins have all championedthe cause. Native Long Islander, PatBenatar, is Honorary Chairpersonfor the Long Island CaresEndowment Campaign. The

endowment fund, which is apermanent, steady, and securesource of income, is vitally important to charitable, non-profitorganizations in uncertaineconomic times. Establishing anendowment is like planting the seedof future organization growth; ittells the community that the

organization is building for thefuture and intends to serve thecommunity for many years to come.“Pat Benatar’s name will certainly add a great deal of influence to ourEndowment Campaign among Long Islanders and others,” said Pachter,“She is one of the most recognizablefemale Rock artists in history and amultiple industry award

 winner. Her songs are classics and we are honored that she has chosento chair this campaign that willhopefully secure and enhance thefuture of Long Island Cares.

Fame, however, is not a pre-requisite for helping Long IslandCares. Students across Long Islandhave volunteered their time with ahugely successful fund raising program created by Mrs. Peggy Rakas of the Camp Avenue

Elementary School in NorthMerrick. In March, 2009 musicstudents from 36 different schoolsturned their music practice intodollars with a Practice-A-Thonfundraiser to benefit Long IslandCares. With encouragement fromtheir band teachers, the studentsraised money by obtaining commitments from donors who

agreed to pay thestudents for each

minute of practice on theirinstruments. Notonly did thestudents improvetheir musicalskills, but they raised a total of $24,756 for Long IslandCares. Pachter, amusician himself,

 was impressedby the responsefrom the students

 when he visitedCamp Avenue Elementary School inNorth Merrick. “It all started withone band teacher at one school.Mrs. Peggy Rakas asked if her bandcould do it for us and then sent anemail to some of her colleagues inother schools. It just mushroomedinto this fantastic, fun and very industrious fundraiser, with the

students learning about hunger anour founder.” “There is a naturalbond between music and ourorganization, which our Board andstaff continue to actively nurture,and when musically talentedchildren get involved wonderfulthings like Practice-A-Thon

happen,” Pachter added. ThePractice-A-Thon fundraiser will takplace again in March, 2010 and allschools are encouraged toparticipate. If your school isinterested in joining the fundraiserplease call the Long Island CaresDevelopment Office.

Hunger on Long Island is farmore widespread than you mightthink, but you can help make adifference. Even a small effort by each one of us can result in hugechange. All donations of food,money or time are greatly appreciated, regardless of amount.

To help feed the needy pleasecontact: Long Island Cares, Inc. -The Harry Chapin Food Bank:631-582-FOOD (3663) orwww.LICARES.org

Pat Benetar is one of the mosrecognizable female Rock artists history and a multiple industryaward winner. Her songs areclassics and we are honored thatshe has chosen to chair thiscampaign that willhopefully secure and enhance thfuture of Long Island Cares.

“To know is to care, to care is to act, to a

is to make a difference” - Harry Chapin