This Hauppauge-based food bank helped provide holiday meal and warm winter coats to families across Long Island who have fallen upon hard times.
LI Cares is collecting donations of frozen turkeys, chickens, hams in addition to non-perishable food for the holidays and upcoming winter season. The organization distributes food to over 500 member agencies to provide holiday meals for needy families on Long Island.
The nonprofit is frequently looking for volunteers to sort food, package mobile and kids meals and sort winter coats throughout the holiday season. Contact Alisha Summers at 631-583-3663 x. 119 for information about upcoming volunteer opportunities.
2. Long Island Association for Aids Care
LIAAC, a non-for-profit organization serving Long Islanders and their families infected and affected by HIV or AIDS based in Hauppauge, is collecting is collecting food, toys and donations. Each year the agency hands out 200 "Turkey and Fixings" baskets to needy families in November and December, then hosts a holiday party where children are given gifts as tokens of the holiday season. Food donations will be accepted throughout the holiday season. New, unwrapped toy donations for children up to age 18 are being accepted up through Dec. 10, the date of the organization’s Client Holiday Party.
3. Island Harvest
Island Harvest is hunger relief organization that has opened a warehouse distribution center and officies in Hauppauge over the past year. The nonprofit distributes food to Long Island residents throughout the holiday season. Volunteers are needed this holiday season to stand outside supermarkets soliciting donated turkeys and gift cards for Island Harvest.
in Hauppauge is also accepting frozen turkeys, supermarket turkey coupons and non-perishable food items for its' Turkey and Trimmings Collection Campaign. Canned and non-perishable food items can also be dropped at McDonalds. Volunteers are needed to collect these donations as well as transport them from Island Harvest’s warehouse to local member agencies.
4. Holiday Magic
is a Hauppauge-based nonprofit is collecting monetary and toy donations to provide a holiday experience for Long Island's needy children. Throughout November and December, the agency is calling for volunteers to help unload toys and wrap presidents for its upcoming holiday parties. Holiday Magic is seeking volunteers to wrap presents on Dec. 4 at 8:30 a.m. in their Hauppauge office. Contact elfis4ever@aol.com for more details.
6. Smithtown Food Pantry
The Food Pantry in Smithtown accepts donations Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are always needed, throughout the holiday season and beyond.
The pantry also gives away turkey diners on Thanksgiving to those in need with the help of local community organizations.
7. Toys for Tots
The U.S. Marines host this annual toy fundraiser to bring smiles to make sure all children have a gift to open Christmas morning. Toys `R` Us store chain is a local donation point across Long Island. In Hauppauge, the , Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Cablevision, Coca-Cola, ePlus Technology and the Suffolk County office buildings on Veterans Highway are also collecting donations.
8. Brentwood Food Pantries/Soup Kitchens: There are a number of food pantries and soup kitchens serving the nearby Brentwood community that are always looking for volunteers and donations, especially during the holidays.
Christ Episcopal Food Pantry
155 Third Avenue
Brentwood, NY 11717
Phone: 631-273-9504
Iglesia Roca de Salvacion Food Pantry
65 Bradley Street
Brentwood, NY 11717
Phone: 631-434-1038
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
Thomas I. Connerty Outreach (Food Pantry/Soup Kitchen)
88 Second Avenue
Brentwood, NY 11717
Phone: 631-273-2192
Hours of Operation: Pantry: Mon-Fri (9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.). Soup Kitchen: Sat (11:30 a.m.)
9. : This group meets monthly at to assemble hundreds of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to donate throughout Long Island and New York City. Donations of peanut butter, jelly, bread, paper towels, sandwich bags and paper plates are required.
10.Pronto
This Bay Shore-based community outreach center services needy residents of Brentwood, Central Islip and the surrounding areas. Donations can be dropped off at their offices Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
