MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. — Nourish New York, a $25 million statewide initiative recently announced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, provided funding to support the purchase of 100,000 pounds of food to help Long Islanders struggling with food-insecurity brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Island Harvest Food Bank, a leading Long Island-based hunger-relief organization, distributed fruits and vegetables grown in New York state, as well as dairy products, meat and other foods produced in New York, at an event held on Friday, May 8, 2020 at Westfield Sunrise in Massapequa. In all, 3,600 local families were provided with food support at the state’s first Nourish New York distribution. Additional Nourish New York food distributions throughout the state and on Long Island will be announced shortly by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Attending the event were Richard Ball, New York State Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets; Nassau County Executive Laura Curran; Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone; representatives from New York’s agricultural business community; and other state and local officials.
The Nourish New York program reroutes the state’s surplus agricultural products through New York’s network of food banks to people who have been economically impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Funding from the state’s special public health emergency fund is allocated regionally and is based on the needs of food banks and other emergency feeding programs across the state. Island Harvest Food Bank received $793,657 through Nourish New York, according to Randi Shubin Dresner, president & CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank.
Food banks and emergency food providers can spend the Nourish New York funds allocated to them by doing any of the following, as established by the state:
- Setting up food-drive-through events/giveaways
- Distributing dairy vouchers that can be redeemed in grocery stores for products like cheese, yogurt, milk, sour cream, and butter Purchasing products directly from New York dairy/food manufacturers for their feeding programs
“The unprecedented economic upheaval brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with Long Island’s high cost of living, has created an unparalleled standard of need,” said Ms. Shubin Dresner, who also chairs the advocacy committee at Feeding New York State, a statewide association of food banks. “We’re now seeing people who have never before sought food assistance standing alongside those who have needed support from local food pantries in the past.”
Island Harvest Food Bank has distributed the equivalent of more than 2,000,000 meals since the middle of March 2020, and the food bank reports that nearly half the people they have served have never accessed emergency food assistance programs. More than 200 of Island Harvest Food Bank’s network of approximately 450 community-based food pantries, soup kitchens, and other emergency feeding programs in Nassau and Suffolk counties remain closed due to the pandemic, which creates additional hardships on people who typically rely on such resources for supplemental food support.
“Thanks to Governor Cuomo, Nourish New York not only helps get high-quality, New York-produced food onto the tables on those who need it, but provides a much-needed economic stimulus for the state’s agricultural community, while preventing good, wholesome food from going to waste,” added Ms. Shubin Dresner.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball said, “I’m proud to kick off the Governor’s Nourish New York initiative with Island Harvest on Long Island. Our food banks have been doing tremendous work to feed our populations who need it most, especially at this unprecedented time, and today we are seeing our work to connect our families, our food banks, and our farmers realized. The program is bringing New York products to those who need them most, while supporting our farmers and producers. We look forward to seeing many more of these events in the days ahead.”
“We are fighting a war on multiple fronts as food insecurity and hunger have become one of the greatest challenges brought on by the coronavirus,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. “I thank Governor Cuomo and our partners at Island Harvest for helping us meet the needs of thousands of families across Long Island as Nassau County continues to respond to the escalating demand wrought by this constantly evolving crisis.”
“As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 crisis, there is no denying that families across the County are struggling to put food on the table,” said Suffolk County Executive Bellone. “We have been working around the clock to ensure that no one goes hungry, and I want to thank Governor Cuomo for providing the necessary funding through Nourish NY, and Island Harvest for always being ready to answer the call and hosting this food distribution that will provide relief to thousands of Long Islanders.”
“We’re proud to kick off our contribution to the Nourish New York initiative with a truck delivery to the Island Harvest Food Bank,” said Peter McGuinness, President of Chobani. “It helps dairy farmers with their milk supply and fellow New Yorkers on Long Island who are struggling to keep food on their tables. With food insecurity nearing an all-time high, we’re honored to show our support to local food banks in backyard communities.”
“As a food manufacturer, we understand the essential role we play in continuing to feed our communities, especially during these challenging times,” said, Lactalis American Group President & CEO Jean-Luc Bruandet. “Through Nourish New York, we are extending Buffalo’s ‘City of Good Neighbors’ motto to help our Long Island neighbors in need by partnering in this event. We continue to work with New York State to do what we can to provide hunger relief as this pandemic continues.”
“The Long Island Farm Bureau and its members are longtime partners of Island Harvest Food Bank when it comes to addressing the critical issue of hunger on Long Island,” said Robert Carpenter, Administrative Director of the Long Island Farm Bureau. “We applaud Governor Cuomo’s efforts in providing New York’s and Long Island’s agricultural communities with some welcome economic relief, while helping to put fresh, nutritious, locally grown products on the tables of people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Nourish New York food distribution in Massapequa offered food support to people in the surrounding communities, including Amityville, Copiague, East Farmingdale, Farmingdale, East Massapequa, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, North Amityville, and North Babylon. These communities have a combined population of nearly 141,000, according to Census Bureau estimates, and approximately 3,438 coronavirus cases, according to published news reports.
Among the New York-based food growers/producers that provided food at the event were Chobani, Splendid Blend, Queensboro Farm Products, Inc., Lucki 7 Livestock Company, Galbani Cheese, Hudson River Fruit Distributors, Satur Farms, and Torrey Farms Inc.
About Island Harvest Food Bank
Island Harvest Food Bank is a leading hunger-relief organization that provides food and other resources to people in need. Always treating those it helps with dignity and respect, its mission is to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island through efficient food collection and distribution; enhanced hunger-awareness and nutrition-education programs; job training; and direct services targeted at children, senior citizens, veterans, and others at risk of food insecurity. As a result of Island Harvest Food Bank’s dynamic business model, more than 94 percent of expended resources go directly to programs and services that support more than 300,000 Long Islanders facing hunger. Island Harvest Food Bank is a lead agency in the region’s emergency response preparedness for food and product distribution. It is a member of Feeding America®, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization. For five consecutive years, Island Harvest Food Bank has earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a leading independent charity watchdog organization. Island Harvest Food Bank is among just 9% of the organizations rated by Charity Navigator to merit the four-star designation. More information about Island Harvest Food Bank is at www.islandharvest.org.
–Don Miller,West End Strategies, Ltd.