Mobile Food Pantry Comes To Seniors Across Oyster Bay

OYSTER BAY, NY — Long Island Cares began a program to bring a mobile food pantry to older adults across Nassau and Suffolk counties in 2019. Since then, the need has only grown.

"Long Island senior citizens are at high risk of experiencing food insecurity," Christine Brown, director for Programs & Community Services at Long Island Cares, told Patch. "This is due to several factors including: rising cost of foods, living off of fixed incomes and lack of transportation options."

Just in the town of Oyster Bay, Supporting Our Seniors program brings hundreds of bags of food to senior citizens. A van visits apartment complexes populated by seniors, bringing packages designed to supplement home pantries and monthly shopping lists, including essential items such as canned vegetables and fruit, proteins such as beans or tuna, and grains like pasta or cereal.

On average, the SOS program assists more than 400 seniors each month, Brown said.

Mobile outreach coordinator Gerard Caggiano has been doing the work for three years. The sites he visits in Oyster Bay range from senior centers to apartment complexes. He either delivers the bags or seniors visit him at the van.

"I meet so many individuals that rely on our assistance. Food insecurity is real," he told Patch. "To help others and try to combat hunger, is something I’m proud to be a part of."

To find out if S.O.S. is distributing in your community, please contact licares.org or call 631-582-FOOD.