THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AWARDS LONG ISLAND CARES $15,000 GRANT TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE FOR CHILDREN

HAUPPAUGE, NY – Monday, October 17, 2016 – Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank will receive a $15,000 grant from The Walt Disney Company to increase access to fresh produce as part of a national initiative between Disney and Feeding America.  The funds, which will be made available as of November 1, 2016, will be used to support the regional food bank’s Mobile School Pantry program that assists families within the Brentwood School District by increasing the delivery of fresh produce to children experiencing high food insecurity, especially during times when school is closed on weekends and holidays.
“We’re very excited to have been selected by our colleagues at Feeding America to receive this grant from The Walt Disney Company as part of their continued commitment to making healthy food available to people in need, and in this particular instance, access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Robin Amato, Chief Development Officer at Long Island Cares.  “Our organization continues to place a high priority on healthy eating and access to fresh produce as part of our Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables program, and by dedicating a large percentage of our funding from the NYS Department of Health – HPNAP program towards purchasing locally grown produce.  The additional funding from The Disney Company will go a long way in helping us increase our efforts.”
“Since the beginning of this new school year in September, our Mobile School Pantry has provided food to 548 children in the Brentwood community in collaboration with the Brentwood School District,” said Jessica Rosati, Chief Program Officer at Long Island Cares.  “Last year, 1,631 families benefitted from this program, which represented a 32% increase in the number of families receiving support from the regional food bank.  With these additional funds we can increase the amount of healthy vegetables and fruits available to the children we’re assisting in the community who are often at risk for poor nutrition.”
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About Long Island Cares
Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank has been Long Island’s regional food bank since 1980. 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 their ability, provides for the humanitarian needs of the community. Their goals are to improve food security for families, sponsor programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency and educate the general public about the causes and consequences of hunger on Long Island. Their vision is “A Hunger Free Long Island.”