LI Cares Receives $20K Grant To Help Feed Hundreds Of Hungry Children

HAUPPAUGE, NY — The Dunkin' Joy In Childhood Foundation issued a $20,000 grant to Long Island Cares, a hunger relief organization based in Hauppauge.

The funds will help Long Island Cares provide meals to food-insecure children across the island and help the organization reach more children on a regular basis, said Kerry Tooker, the manager of child nutrition programs at Long Island Cares.

"I like to say it takes a village to raise a healthy child," Tooker told Patch. "Without the generous support from donors like Dunkin', this program could not exist. They are the true heroes here."

As part of the Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation's winter grant cycle, the foundation recently awarded $2.8 million in local grants to 133 health and hunger relief charitable organizations, said April McGonnigal, director of the Dunkin' Joy In Childhood Foundation.

Long Island Cares's more than 40 years of combating food insecurity for families aligns with the foundation's mission of bringing joy to kids who are battling hunger or illness, McGonnigal said. The foundation was "thrilled" to support Long Island Cares during the holiday season.

"When kids face the uncertainty of not knowing when their next meal will come, it robs them of the simple joys of childhood," McGonnigal said. "We're so fortunate to have the support of our Dunkin' franchisees, vendors and guests who share the belief that we must act to provide children and families with the basic need of food."

Long Island Cares's Pack It Up for Kids Program reaches children from 18 schools across both Nassau and Suffolk. Children receive backpacks with food from their school faculty on a Friday so they can enjoy healthy meals over the weekend, according to Tooker.

Four school districts have sent applications asking Long Island Cares to be able to participate in the Pack It Up For Kids programs. Serving these districts could mean reaching as many as 600 additional children, providing them with nutritious meals over weekends.

"Without donors like Dunkin', programs this amazing cannot happen," Tooker said.

McGonnigal encouraged people to visit the Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation website to learn more about how they can support children battling hunger both in local communities and across the country.

Long Island Cares's Pack It Up for Kids Program currently services 18 schools among these districts:

• Freeport
• West Hempstead
• East Islip
• Central Islip
• Middle Country
• Eastern Suffolk Boces
• William Floyd
• Riverhead Charter
• Eastport South Manor
• Hampton Bays
• Southampton
• Springs

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.