Riverhead Students to Thank Island Harvest for Weekend Backpack Feeding Program

Every day more than 110,000 children struggle with hunger on Long Island. Across the country, according to Feeding America, a leading domestic anti-hunger charity, the number of people living in food insecure homes reached nearly 49 million in 2012.  More than 16 million children in America — more than 1 in 5 — face hunger.

The Island Harvest Kids Weekend Backpack Feeding Program delivers food to Long Island kids who rely on in-school food programs for them to eat over the weekend. To-date more than 50,000 packets of food have been distributed to nearly 1700 children, supplementing approximately 200,000 meals to students who may have gone hungry over the weekend, when school is not in session

On Friday, at 12:30 p.m. students at the Philips Avenue School in Riverhead who are beneficiaries of Island Harvest’s Kids Weekend Backpack Feeding Program, will host a luncheon to show their appreciation. Thank you letters from more than 50 of the grateful students who have benefited from the program will be read aloud to Island Harvest officials and their supporters. In attendance will be Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO, Island Harvest; local officials, Island Harvest staff and supporters.   

 Excerpts from some of last year’s letters from fourth grade students:

“Dear Island Harvest, Thank you for giving my family food avry [sic]Friday. It helps my mom and brother Erik, especially when he had cancer.” Melany 6/11/13.

 “Dear Island Harvest, Thank you for giving my family food every Friday it help my Mom and sisters not to be hungrey [sic]. When my family was in the motel and we didn’t have anything to eat we could count on Island Harvest.” Iyana 6/11/13.

For more information about the Island Harvest Weekend Backpack Feeding Program visit them online.