Here's How To Help 'Stamp Out Hunger' In Your Long Island Town

BRENTWOOD, NY— Nearly 300,000 Long Islanders face food insecurity at some point throughout the year, many of whom call towns like Brentwood, Islip, Lindenhurst and Bay Shore home.

On Saturday, May 11, local mail carriers will pick up donated food and personal items from residents' mailboxes for the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive in partnership with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the Island Harvest Food Bank.

To participate, residents may place healthy, non-perishable, non-expired food donations and personal hygiene items by their mailbox for collection during regularly scheduled mail delivery.

"It's a food drive that comes to you," a spokesperson for Island Harvest told Patch.

According to Island Harvest, foods ideal for donating include canned goods, cereal, pasta, rice, boxed juices, and shelf-stable milk. They ask that food in glass containers is not donated. In addition, personal care items such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant and disposable diapers are needed.

"Even if it's a can of soup or a box of cereal, every donation, no matter the size, will help countless Loing Islanders who may be struggling to put food on their tables," said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. “We are counting on the generosity of our neighbors who can spare a little extra to help make this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive one of the most successful.”

The Island Harvest team hopes that the food drive will also bring awareness to other resources offered to Long Islanders by Island Harvest, including supplemental food support services for children, veterans, senior citizens and assistance with accessing benefits like SNAP. The organization also connects residents with job training and other initiatives that address the root causes of food insecurity.

For anyone who'd prefer to drop off donations at local food pantries, below is a list of food pantries in Bay Shore, Brentwood, Islip and Deer Park.

• St. Anne's Parish Outreach, 88 Second Ave, Brentwood, (631) 339-7470
• First Christian Church of Brentwood, 1818 5th Avenue, Bay Shore, (631) 273-7979
• Hands Across Long Island (HALI), 159 Brightside Avenue, Central Islip, (631) 433-3200
• Pronto of L.I. Inc., 128 Pine Aire Drive, Bay Shore, (631) 231-8290
• Bethany Hospitality, 100 Lemon Street, Central Islip, (631) 521-6036
• Central Islip Civic Council, 68 Wheeler Road, Central Islip, (631) 348-0669
• Hope Community Ministries, 64 Tiber Avenue, Deer Park, (516) 983-9808

Click here for a full list of Long Island food pantries.