LONG ISLAND CARES AND NEW YORK STATE HPNAP PROGRAM DELIVER MORE FOOD TO PEOPLE IN NEED IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2016

Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Food Bank reported an increase of more than 20% in their distribution of emergency food for Long Islanders in need for the first six months of 2016.  The regional food bank was able to purchase 1,333,841 pounds of nutritious food between January and June through its contract with the New York State Department of Health, Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) which was an increase of more than 30% in purchases in 2015.  The regional food bank delivered 1,239,988 pounds of food to its 575 community-based member agencies as of June 30, 2016.
According to Paule Pachter, Chief Executive Officer for Long Island Cares, “Governor Cuomo and the state Legislature increased funding for the HPNAP Program by $4.5 million this year which is allowing Long Island Cares to purchase more food and provide additional grants to our eligible member agencies including hundreds of food pantries across Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  The result has been that we were able to deliver nearly 250,000 additional pounds of food in the first six months to assist Long Islanders struggling with high food insecurity including 89,000 children.”
Long Island Cares has been administering the state’s HPNAP funds for the region since 1994 and has seen funding for hunger relief increase significantly in the past eight years.  “The Long Island legislative delegation has always been supportive towards increasing the HPNAP budget that is administered by the 8 regional New York food banks including Long Island Cares,” said Pachter.  “When Albany and Washington support a commitment towards solving hunger and work closely with organizations like ours who in turn are able to deliver the resources to 575 other programs it represents government doing its best work to lift people up in a time of need.”
For more information about how you can help log onto www.licares.org.  For media inquiries, please contact Long Island Cares’ Chief Development Officer Robin S. Amato, CFRE at 631-582-3663 ext. 103.