October 28 | Isabelle Panza
Long Island is becoming an increasingly diverse area, with Suffolk and Nassau Counties home to vibrant communities. Suffolk County’s population is 8.2% Black, 3.7% Asian, and 17.3% Hispanic/Latino, while Nassau County has similar diversity, with 12.2% Black, 8.4% Asian, and 15.3% Hispanic/Latino populations. As a food bank dedicated to serving everyone in need, Long Island Cares strives to meet these communities’ cultural and dietary needs, particularly during the holiday season when food traditions play an even more critical role.
Many people ask, why is it important to give food-insecure people culturally relevant food?
Food is more than nutrition; it’s a part of one’s culture, traditions, and even religion. When a Food Bank provides culturally relevant food, it ensures that everyone, regardless of economic status, can nourish their bodies in a way that honors their beliefs.
Caribbean Community:
For many Caribbean families, dishes like oxtail, rice, and peas are staples in their communities. By providing the Caribbean community with these ingredients, we are helping them feel a sense of home and normalcy even when dealing with hard times.
Jewish Community:
For the Jewish community, eating kosher is not just a dietary choice—it’s a religious obligation. Kosher foods must meet specific guidelines outlined in Jewish law, such as ensuring that meat and dairy are not mixed and that all meat is obtained according to religious standards. At Long Island Cares, we make sure to provide kosher meats and pareve items (foods that are neither meat nor dairy). During Jewish holidays, these food choices are particularly important, and we help them to celebrate without sacrificing their religious beliefs and obligations.
Hispanic/ Latino Community:
The Hispanic and Latino communities on Long Island represent various countries from South and Central America. During the holiday season, many families gather to enjoy tamales, aerpas, and more. Providing masa harina and maseca allows people to create some of these traditional dishes. Other key items we distribute include rice, beans, tortillas, and staples in many Hispanic households. Offering families these staples helps them celebrate their heritage even when far away from home.
Asian Community:
The Asian community on Long Island is diverse, with families from countries such as China, India, Korea, and the Philippines. Each culture’s culinary heritage shapes their daily lives and holiday traditions. For many of these families, rice and tofu are often essential ingredients in many dishes. At Long Island Cares, we ensure that culturally relevant foods are readily available so Asian families can continue to cook foods that are familiar to them and central to their culture.
When we offer culturally relevant food, we are not only addressing food insecurity but also showing our respect to the many heritages and religions that make Long Island so unique. Food plays a significant role in maintaining cultural identity. Providing families with the ingredients they recognize, and value can help preserve a sense of normalcy and dignity in challenging times.
We also want to note that while we strive to provide culturally relevant staples, we’re committed to going beyond just the basics. We’re working to always have a steady stock of these items available to the communities we serve. As we approach the holiday season, we are accepting gift cards to help meet these needs, but in order to sustain this effort year-round, we rely on your generous donations—both monetary and food. Your support helps us continue this mission, ensuring that everyone on Long Island can receive the foods that matter most to them.
For more information on our programs please visit our website, or if you would like to make a donation click here.