LI Cares Launches New Student Program

A Hauppauge food bank has a new student program aimed to educate and bring local youth into the folds of its volunteers. 

announced its partnership with the United Way of Long Island to create Students United Against Hunger, a new Saturday program aimed as providing youth with an opportunity to volunteer and get involved. 

"We wanted to foster an environment where children can work together with their parents and learn about hunger on Long Island, " said Jessica Rosati, director of Program and Community Services for LI Cares. 

The program is designed for students groups, ranging in age from 7 - 14, to get learn about hunger and poverty on Long Island through Long Island Cares before offering them a chance to sort donated items, food, personal items, and clothing in the onsite warehouse. 

"Several board member and volunteers have encouraged the development of this program as a way to sensitize our young people to growing needs across Long Island and to be active volunteering," said Theresa Regnante, President and CEO of United Way of Long Island in a press statement. 

The Saturday presentations will start with LI Cares' one-hour Hunger 101 presentation, an interactive workshop in which participants roleplay a person in hunger attempting to provide nutritious meals for their family to learn about the process of finding financial aid, navigating government agencies and non-profits and locating assistance. 

In 2010, Rosati said 2,426 Long Island residents took Hunger 101. However, "Students United Against Hunger" takes it a step further by including a community service component of sorting items  in LI Cares' warehouse to be delivered to its 560 member agencies. 

"The idea is to generate a younger avenue of students that are interested in hunger, poverty on Long Island," Rosati said. 

The first day of "Students United Against Hunger" is scheduled for Feb. 26 from 9:30 - noon. It will be held once a month, with future scheduled dates: March 26, April 30, May 21 and June 18. 

Student participants will recent a special T-shirt with opportunity to graduate into LI Cares' Student Volunteer Corp, working in its Freeport pantry to help local residents. 

Those interested in more information or schedule to participate should contact Donna Deriggi at 631-940-3700 or dderiggi@unitedwayli.org.