Donors Provide Thanksgiving Turkeys To LI Cares For Food-Insecure People

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Multiple donors have stepped up to aid Long Island Cares in its mission to help provide food-insecure families with a full Thanksgiving meal, the food bank announced.

Donors who asked for anonymity provided 9,600 turkey breasts to Long Island Cares, spokesman Pete Crescenti said.

Stop & Shop, in partnership with Shady Brook Farms, plans to drop off 1,000 turkeys at the Long Island Cares warehouse on Nov. 20 as part of its "Turkey Express" program.

"As a grocery retailer on Long Island, we are dedicated to continuing our longstanding tradition of providing a plentiful Thanksgiving meal for those who need it, especially at a time when food insecurity and the strain of local food banks is only increasing," said Daniel Wolk, external communications manager at Stop & Shop, in a statement.

As part of MetsGiving, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation has donated 500 turkeys.

Long Island Cares is set to distribute the following foods to its partner food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, shelters, etc., thanks to a combination of donations and Long Island Cares's own purchases.

• Turkeys – 3,500
• Turkey breasts: 11,100
• Chickens – 3,600
• Hams – 1,260
• Pork tenderloins – 450

The turkey donations come as Long Island Cares is running its annual Adopt-a-Family program where the food bank encourages Long Islanders to donate food, organize food drives, or make donations to help feed families who might otherwise not have a decent Thanksgiving meal.

The food bank provides traditional ingredients for a full-blown meal. Long Island Cares anticipates making 5,000 food boxes available from its Adopt-a-Family program, according to Robert Labarbara, vice president for operations and procurement at Long Island Cares.

Labarbara said many people have a greater awareness of food insecurity and the need to help during the Thanksgiving season.

"Thanksgiving is celebrated as a National Holiday and people are looking to give thanks and assist food insecure families in the community," Labarbara told Patch.

Labarbara thanked the "generous donors and volunteers" who support Long Island Cares with donations.

"For many, receiving this food will be their primary source for a Thanksgiving meal," he said.

In 2024, Long Island Cares saw a "staggering" 44 percent increase in visitors to its pantries and supported agencies, Labarbara said.

"This surge in demand has strained our resources, and the upcoming holidays could mean less available food. Together with your support and generosity, we can spread the joy and warmth of Thanksgiving to all families in our community."

Labarbara said Long Island Cares welcomes the opportunity to receive a turkey donation from any of its donors at any time.

The main drop-off location is Long Island Cares's Center for Community Engagement at 75 Davids Drive, Hauppauge. Food can be dropped off 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Long Island Cares requested boxed or canned non-perishable items. This is the food needed for a full Thanksgiving meal:

• Four cans of Vegetables (corn, carrots, mixed vegetables, green beans, etc.)
• Four cans of fruit (applesauce, mixed fruits, pineapple, etc.)
• One box of stuffing.
• One box of mashed potato mix.
• Two cans or packets of gravy.
• One can of cranberry sauce.
• One can of yams.
• One box of corn muffin mix.
• One box of a complete dessert mix (brownie mix, cookie mix, etc.)
• One frozen turkey, turkey breast, or whole chicken (protein is optional).

Long Island Cares is also accepting gift cards to provide holiday foods from different cultures. Gift cards must have receipts and not be stapled to anything.

Families in need of help may contact Long Island Cares at 631-582-FOOD or visit its website. There, they will find the locations of food pantries and soup kitchen near them by entering in their ZIP code.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness in our local communities of hunger, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks and 60,000 local meals programs across the country, estimates that nearly 34 million people, including 9 million children — about 1 in 6 Americans — are living with food insecurity. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.