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.
About Stop & Shop
A neighborhood grocer for more than 100 years, Stop & Shop offers a wide assortment with a focus on fresh, healthy options at a great value. Stop & Shop’s GO Rewards loyalty program delivers personalized offers and allows customers to earn points that can be redeemed for gas or groceries every time they shop. Stop & Shop customers can choose how and where they want to shop – whether it’s in-store or online for delivery or same day pickup. The company is committed to making an impact in its communities by fighting hunger, supporting our troops, and investing in pediatric cancer research to help find a cure. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is an Ahold Delhaize USA Company and employs 58,000 associates and operates more than 400 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com.
About the New York Islanders
Founded in 1972, the New York Islanders Hockey Club is the proud winner of four Stanley Cup Championships and nineteen consecutive playoff series victories. The Islanders have had nine members inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and play in the National Hockey League’s Eastern Conference.
The Islanders Children’s Foundation has helped countless youngsters in need around the world since its inception. Donations are raised through the efforts of our players, management, and employees, along with our fans and partners.
UBS Arena at Belmont Park is the team’s new, state of the art home starting this season.
About Long Island Cares, Inc.
Founded by the late Harry Chapin, Long Island Cares brings together all available resources for the benefit of the hungry and food insecure on Long Island and, to the best of our ability, provides for the humanitarian needs of our community. Our goals are to improve food security for families, sponsor programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency, and educate the public about the causes and consequences of hunger on Long Island. Our vision is A Hunger Free Long Island. Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank has a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator as well as earning GuideStar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency.
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 mission is to end hunger and reduce food waste 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 of food insecurity. As a result of Island Harvest Food Bank’s dynamic business model, more than 94 percent of expended resources go directly to programs and services that support more than 300,000 Long Islanders facing hunger. Island Harvest Food Bank 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 organization. For five consecutive years, Island Harvest Food Bank has earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a leading independent charity watchdog organization. Island Harvest Food Bank is among just 9% of the organizations rated by Charity Navigator to merit the four-star designation. More information about Island Harvest Food Bank is at www.islandharvest.org.
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