HAUPPAUGE, New York – March 1, 2021
Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank will mark the one year anniversary of its satellite emergency food distribution center serving the East End by offering clients a personal care bag thanks to additional support from Bank of America. Each client will receive a bag of personal care items throughout the month of March, which will include paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent, fabric sheets, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, soap, feminine hygiene products, and deodorant.
This funding builds on a $500,000 grant from Bank of America awarded in January 2020 to Long Island Cares to help establish its fifth community based satellite center in Hampton Bays, which features a First Stop Triage Pantry and Baxter’s Pet Pantry. The satellite was due to have a grand opening in early March, but was postponed due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many residents who reside on the East End of Long Island work in seasonal positions and industries like hospitality, agricultural, and trade, all of which were negatively impacted by the pandemic creating furloughs, layoffs, and job losses. Since its opening in March, the satellite served 14,795 people and has given out 97,420 meals.
“In the last year I’ve seen firsthand how the pandemic has affected so many people on this Island & especially on the East End. With job losses, school closings, & sickness affecting so many people, our clients tell me often how thankful they are that we opened during such unprecedented times. When we give them food that we have prepacked from the pantry, I can tell by their reaction that it means a lot to them and that we are making an impact on the East End. Supplying them with something a little extra other than food for the month, will bring a smile to their face or maybe even a tear of joy and that is what I believe we are here to do, make someone’s hard day a little brighter & easier,” said Liliane Leonardo, Program Coordinator for Hampton Bays.
“Bank of America is a major contributor to hunger relief organizations including Feeding America and Long Island Cares. Their commitment towards reducing food insecurity has resulted in the development of innovative program models like our new satellite location in Hampton Bays, and their generous support added to the successes we’ve had in responding to COVID-19, which has resulted in an additional 255,000 Long Islanders turning to the regional food bank for assistance,” said Paule T. Pachter, CEO of Long Island Cares, Inc.
“Bank of America is committed to advancing the health and well-being of communities on Long Island by working with dedicated local partners like Long Island Cares. Many East Enders have struggled from the economic fallout of the coronavirus, making the services provided all the more critical. Last year’s grant enabled Long Island Cares to expand its reach and support thousands of people on the East End, and we are honored to continue that partnership,” said Bob Isaksen, Long Island Market President for Bank of America.
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 general public about the causes and consequences of hunger on Long Island. Our vision is A Hunger Free Long Island.
About Bank of America
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).
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