LI Cares Adds Farmers Market Truck Thanks To Bank Of America Grant

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Long Island Cares is set to put a new refrigerated farmers market truck on the road this fall because of a $250K grant from Bank of America, the food bank announced.

The custom-designed Ford Transit 350HD truck will distribute fresh produce to food pantries, families, seniors, veterans and other communities experiencing food insecurity. Long Island Cares expects to provide up to 1 million pounds of food annually, with produce purchased from local farms through New York State’s Nourish New York program, funded by the New York State’s Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP).

The initial plan is to deliver fresh produce three days a week, with the goal of expanding the program to five days a week, including weekends, according to LI Cares. More than 250 people a week are expected to benefit from the program.

"We're so grateful to Bank of America for their continued support of our work," Paule Pachter, CEO of Long Island Cares, said in a news release. "This initiative to increase fresh produce to communities in need will allow our neighbors to increase healthy foods into their diets.

Bank of America is "committed" to improving Long Islanders' access to nutritious foods through its partnership with Long Island Cares, said Jennifer Porti, community relations manager of Bank of America Long Island.

"Combatting food insecurity in our communities and investing in hunger-relief efforts is essential as we help support Long Island Cares’ mission to feed our neighbors and address the root causes of hunger on Long Island."

In 2023, Long Island Cares distributed 14 million pounds of food to its network of more than 300 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, seniors and Veterans facilities, the homeless and more. From this year’s increasing demand for food at these agencies and the five food pantries Long Island Cares owns and operates, that number is expected to rise in 2024, the food bank stated.

Bank of America recently helped fund Long Island Cares satellite locations in Hampton Bays and Bethpage.

"Long Island Cares is very grateful to Bank of America for supporting our mission to end hunger on Long Island, by providing a generous grant to support the purchase of a farmers market truck," Katrina Hill, Long Island Cares vice president for network relations and capacity building, told Patch. "The truck will allow us to enhance food security throughout Long Island by accessing underserved communities and providing an essential source of fresh produce."

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.