Long Island Cares Has New Weapon to Fight Hunger

Volunteers for Long Island Cares-The Happy Chapin Food Bank are utilizing a new weapon to fight hunger on Long Island, a mobile van stocked with food that has been going to various communities throughout Long Island to help those in need.

This past Monday, the Long Island Cares Mobile Van  visited the South Bay Commons parking lot on Sunrise Highway in West Islip, where Legislator Tom Barraga's district office is located, to provide help to those who may need it. 

Just how big of a problem is hunger on Long Island? According to a study, Hunger in America 2010, Island Harvest and Long Island Cares provide emergency food for an estimated 283,700 different people annually, 39 percent of which are children under the age of 18. 

Long Island Cares is trying to collaborate with community leaders, elected officials and other organizations to combat the hunger problem on Long Island. "We want to partner with the community and let members know we're here to help," said supervisor of programs and community services Jessica Rosati, who was one of three volunteers manning the mobile van in West Islip along with community outreach manager Christine Brown and assistant Mike Haynes.

Anyone can join the fight against hunger. For information on how to help including ways to donate, volunteer, arrange a food drive, or have the mobile van at an event or location,  you can visit www.licares.org/Development/Fight_Hunger.htm.