Dunkin' Provides $50K To Long Island Cares To Feed Food-Insecure Children

LAKE GROVE, NY — The Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation issued a $50K grant to Long Island Cares so the food bank could continue its mission of ending food insecurity on the island.

The money will be used for the nonprofit's Pack It Up for Kids program, which identifies school children who rely on free or reduced-price lunches, Long Island Cares spokesman Pete Crescenti said. It is one of several programs the food bank offers kids. Of the more than 230,000 Long Islanders suffering from food insecurity, nearly 70,000 of that group are children, Crescenti said.

The $50K will purchase enough food to fill approximately 3,400 backpacks, which equates to 20,400 meals and 6,800 snacks, said Kerry Tooker, manager of child nutrition programs at Long Island Cares.

The grant from Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation will be used to purchase food for children all over Long Island, Tooker said. The organization currently serves 588 children. The funding from Dunkin' will allow the food bank to expand its reach.

"As food prices continue to rise and food insecurity has increasingly become a reality for many Long Islanders, this program reaches the most vulnerable of our population by providing nutritious meals to children at risk of hunger over weekends when school meals are not accessible," Tooker told Patch. "This funding from Dunkin' will help us to purchase healthy food items, as well as reach more children in need of nutrition assistance."

Food insecurity has always been an issue, but as prices for food get higher, so does the need, said Joe Marando, a franchise business consultant for Dunkin'. He called food insecurity an "extremely crucial" issue.

Dunkin' celebrated the grand opening of its Lake Grove store on Wednesday.

Dunkin' and The Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation have had a "great relationship" with Long Island Cares over the years, Marando said. Dunkin' team members and franchisees participate in several volunteer events each year.

"We see the positive impact that Long Island Cares has in the community," Marando said.

Marando said one of the core behaviors at Inspire Brands and Dunkin' is being a "good citizen."

"Elevating each other and the communities we serve," Marando said. "It is very rewarding to partner with a group such as Long Island Cares that does such positive work."

Kaylin Peterson, corporate philanthropy manager of Long Island Cares, said she continues to be impressed by the support The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation provides to Long Island Cares.

"Not only do they give generously to our children’s nutrition programs, but they give their time by frequently volunteering, too," Peterson said. "It’s nice when companies want to do more than just write a check, they really get into the weeds with us and see what we're about."

The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation is the charitable foundation powered by Dunkin’, its franchisees, partners, vendors, and guests. It aims to provide the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness.

In 2023, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation raised $16 million to help bring smiles to children, according to the foundation. More than $3.2 million was awarded to provide food access to kids battling food insecurity, and $550,000 was donated to their partner, Feeding America.

Since launching in 2006, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has granted more than $49 million to hundreds of national and local charities across the country.

April is "Good Citizens Month" at Dunkin’.

"We aim to host over 100 volunteer events throughout the country," the charity wrote.

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.