LI Cares, PSEG LI Teaming Up For National Senior Citizen Day Fair In Hauppauge

HAUPPAUGE, NY — A Senior Resource Fair is scheduled for Aug. 21 — National Senior Citizen Day — in Hauppauge.

Thousands of Long Island's food-insecure seniors are the focus of the fair, scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon at Long Island Cares' Center for Community Engagement, at 75 Davids Drive, the food bank announced.

The purpose of the fair is three-fold, according to LI Cares: provide seniors access to nutritious food; distribute fresh Long Island produce at a free farmers market; and expose seniors to advocacy efforts on their behalf and the numerous resources available to them.

The fair is sponsored by PSEG Long Island and being hosted by Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank.

"Long Island Cares relies on corporate support to help fulfill our mission," said Dr. Jessica Rosati, vice president for programs at LI Cares, in a news release. "This partnership has become a necessary lifeline for Long Island's most vulnerable population. We are humbled by the support provided by PSEG Long Island’s Community Partnership and are grateful for our continued commitment to addressing Long Island food insecurity."

Agencies and organizations presenting to seniors about their services include:

• PSEG Long Island Community Advocates to discuss financial programs and tips to save energy and money.
• Aetna Medicare.
• Catholic Health Community Bus.
• Clear Captions.
• Northwell Health.
• Suffolk County Department of Aging.

Long Island Cares began its outreach to seniors in 2020, with its Support Our Seniors (SOS) program. In 2022, more than 17,000 food-insecure seniors at senior centers and housing authorities were served 154,575 meals by the program. So far this year, through June, 9,800 seniors have been served 102,000 meals.

Long Island Cares provides emergency food and supplies to 221,000 Long Islanders facing
food insecurity.

In addition to the food bank in Hauppauge and the 325 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other locations it provides food to, Long Island Cares operates five pantries: Huntington Station, Lindenhurst, Hampton Bays, Freeport and Bethpage.

Since 2021, PSEG Long Island has partnered with Long Island Cares to increase access to nutritious foods for seniors and veterans. The company has been supplying fresh produce at several summertime fairs and veterans’ events hosted by Long Island Cares.

"We are proud to partner with Long Island Cares to sponsor their senior fairs this summer," said David Lyons, PSEG Long Island interim president and COO. "Supporting our neighbors in the communities where we live and work is part of our core commitments and an important part of PSEG Long Island’s culture. Our employees really enjoy events like this where they can get out and meet our neighbors. We are thrilled that so many people have come out to enjoy the fresh fruits and vegetables we are able to provide together with Long Island Cares."

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.