Retired Suffolk Man Volunteers At Long Island Cares: 'I Wanted To Help'

HAUPPAUGE, NY — A man who took early retirement from a Manhattan law firm he had worked at for 24 years has thrown himself into volunteerism, helping fight food insecurity while mentoring those younger than him.

Darryl Morris, 59, of East Northport, retired in June 2023. He heard about Long Island Cares from a friend and started volunteering at the Hauppauge pantry in January.

"I’ve noticed over the past few years that there seemed to be more and more people going hungry in this country," Morris told Patch. "Since I was moving back to Long Island, I wanted to help in this area, and after researching pantries, I found that Long Island Cares was doing some amazing things."

Morris said "incredible and caring people" who have a passion for helping people volunteer at Long Island Cares. He draws inspiration from his fellow volunteers, which he said led to his most memorable moment while volunteering at the pantry.

"Some ladies older than me were working so hard that I couldn’t keep up," Morris said. "They were amazing. I had to tell them to slow down so I could catch up. It’s such fun to work with them."

Everyone he volunteers with is "pleasant," which he said caught his attention.

"Nobody wanted to sit still, nor were they constantly looking at their watches, talking, or texting on their phones. They were there to do a job, and they took it seriously."

Morris also volunteers in various areas of his church. He hopes to return to helping teenagers understand how to invest and manage their finances. He had teenagers read the book, "The Millionaire Mind." If they read the book and wrote a report, he said, he would give them $250 per quarter to invest into a stock they were interested in. Even those who did not read the book received $50, which Morris placed in the book. He would also advise them on which stocks may benefit them.

"The book also discusses making good choices, friends, girlfriends, etc.," Morris said.

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.