Billy Joel Exhibit Food Drive: LI Cares, LIMEHOF, Team Up To Fight Hunger

STONY BROOK, NY — The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame/Billy Joel exhibit is partnering with Long Island Cares for a food drive between Monday and Feb. 29, the food bank announced.

People who bring a bag of non-perishable food to the exhibit will receive a half-price ticket when one is bought at at full price, with a free Billy Joel poster thrown in. Tickets must be bought at the door, not in advance.

"Billy has been a supporter of LIC for several years, so the partnership is natural," Long Island Cares spokesman Pete Crescenti said.

The exhibit is dedicated exclusively to Joel, a LIMEHOF inductee, the museum wrote in a news release. The attraction opened to the public on Nov. 24 and had a strong opening weekend at 97 Main St., Stony Brook.

Paule Pachter, CEO of Long Island Cares, said Joel has a fitting relationship with the food bank, noting Joel toured with LI Cares founder Harry Chapin in the 1970s and has been "very vocal in his admiration" of Chapin's philanthropy. Chapin was inducted into the LIMEHOF in 2006.

"Billy Joel supported our work during COVID when he funded a freezer trailer for our Hampton Bays pantry that allowed us to increase support for residents of the East End," Pachter told Patch. "That also allowed us to support the Long Island fishing industry by purchasing their products that weren’t going to market."

Joel began his association with Long Island Cares in 2013, as part of the "Dee Snider Motorcycle Run," according to Long Island Cares. Joel did that for four years. Since 2017, he has done various fundraisers, including at the Paramount in Huntington and Nassau Coliseum.

Joel was also involved in "charity begins at home" many years ago, said LIMEHOF Chairman Ernie Canadeo.

"I felt that our participation would be a terrific way to expand and promote the message of hunger on Long Island," Canadeo said. "Not everyone is aware of the amount of hunger and food insecurity on Long Island and more awareness is necessary."

The exhibit showcases more than 50 years of Joel’s most cherished items, which include rare memorabilia, behind-the-scenes video footage, dozens of awards, rare audio and video recordings, vintage instruments, and historic photos — many of which were donated by
Joel himself and have never before been displayed for public viewing.

Canadeo said seeing the smiles on people's faces has been "priceless."

"Billy Joel truly touches people of all ages, and this exhibit is testament to his legacy as Long Island’s favorite entertainer," Canadeo said.

Canadeo said he hopes the hall of fame's promotion with Long Island Cares increases awareness of hunger on Long Island and encourages people to participate by bringing food items to the exhibit.

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.