U.S. Marines, many who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, unloaded 2,000 Thanksgiving turkeys that Stop & Shop donated to Island Harvest and Long Island Cares, Inc.- The Harry Chapin Food Bank. The turkeys are part of Stop & Shop’s annual Turkey Express program, which will deliver more than 18,000 turkeys to hunger relief organizations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island this holiday season.
“Stop & Shop is grateful for the efforts of Island Harvest and Long Island Cares as they assist Long Islanders in need,” said Bob Yager, Stop & Shop’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations. “We are proud to do our part not just around the holidays, but all year-long, as we together work to end hunger across Long Island.”
“Stop & Shop’s continued generosity will help make the holidays more hopeful for Long Island families who face an everyday struggle just to put food on their tables,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president & CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank. “We are grateful for Stop & Shop’s year-round, and longtime support of our efforts in addressing the critical issue of hunger throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, which affects one-in-ten Long Islanders.”
“Stop & Shop has been a great partner in working with the regional food bank to help those in need facing hunger and food insecurity,” stated Paule Pachter, chief executive officer of Long Island Cares. “We look forward every year to participating in Turkey Express, which will allow families on Long Island to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.”
Unfortunately, hunger is no stranger to Long Island:
- More than 300,000 Long Islanders face the risk of hunger each day.
- Nearly one-third of Long Islanders who receive supplemental food assistance are under 18 years old. Children faced with chronic hunger are more likely to experience behavioral issues, have reduced ability to learn social skills and suffer from impaired cognitive learning skills.
- Approximately 70,000 individuals seek food assistance in Nassau and Suffolk counties each week through soup kitchens, food pantries and other feeding programs.
- Most Long Islanders accessing emergency feeding programs are forced to choose between paying for housing, utilities, transportation, medical care and putting food on the table.
- Nearly 36% of people receiving food assistance report an income higher than 130% of poverty – the income eligibility threshold for SNAP assistance.
Stop & Shop is committed to eradicating hunger in the communities it serves. In 2018, the company gave more than $19M in monetary & food donations to fight hunger.
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