Seventh Senate District Food Drive Underway Until August 21

Senator Martins and Villages Partner to Collect Food in Tribute to Harry Chapin

Senator Jack M. Martins is partnering with the villages in the Seventh Senate District to collect food through August 21 to benefit Long Island Cares, the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Senator Martins is sponsoring the food drive as a tribute to the late singer/song writer Harry Chapin, who passed away 30 years ago this year in a car accident on the Long Island Expressway.

The food drive comes in response to the hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders are in need of food. According to a report, entitled “Hunger in America 2010,” presented last year, one out of 10 Long Islanders seeks relief from hunger each year at food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.

“Everything from rent, to utilities, to taxes costs more, and for the working poor and those on fixed incomes, it means a precarious day-to-day existence. Add to that a recession that left thousands of hard-working people struggling and it’s clear we need to work together to make sure the food pantries are stocked and able to provide help,” said Senator Martins about the drive.

Senator Martins, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Local Government, reached out to the villages in the Seventh Senate District. Virtually all have agreed to place a food collection receptacle in their village hall.

Items needed include any canned food, peanut butter and jelly, nuts, granola bars, cookies and crackers as well as dried good such as pasta, macaroni and cheese, rice, and hot and cold cereals. Almost any other packaged items can be donated as well.

Founded in 1980 by singer and activist Harry Chapin of Huntington, it provides food and support services to a network of more than 540 community-based agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, child-care programs, disability organizations and veteran services.

The following villages will be participating by having a drop-off box at their village halls:

Baxter Estates - Mayor Fred Nicholson - 2 Harbor Road, Port Washington

East Hills - Mayor Michael Koblenz - 209 Harbor Road, East Hills

East Williston - Mayor David Tanner - 2 Prospect Street, East Williston

Floral Park - Mayor Tom Tweedy - 1 Floral Boulevard, Floral Park

Flower Hill - Mayor Charles Weiss - 1 Bonnie Heights Road, Manhasset

Great Neck - Mayor Ralph Kreitzman - 61 Baker Hill Road, Great Neck

Great Neck Estates - Mayor David Fox - 4 Atwater Plaza, Great Neck

Great Neck Plaza - Mayor Jean Celender - 2 Gussack Plaza, Great Neck

Kensington - Mayor Susan Lopatkin - 2 Nassau Drive, Great Neck

Lake Success - Mayor Ron Cooper - 318 Lakeville Road, Lake Success

Manorhaven - Mayor Michael Meehan - 33 Manorhaven Boulevard, Port Washington

Mineola - Mayor Scott Strauss - 155 Washington Avenue, Mineola

Munsey Park - Mayor Harry Mayor Nicolaides - 1777 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset

New Hyde Park - Mayor Daniel Petruccio - 1420 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park

North Hills - Mayor Marvin Natiss - 1 Shelter Roack Road, Roslyn

Old Westbury - Mayor Fred Carillo - 1 Store Hill Road, Old Westbury

Plandome Heights - Mayor Diana Merenda - 37 Orchard Street, Manhasset

Plandome Manor - Mayor Barbara Donno - 53 Manhasset Avenue, Manhasset

Port Washington North - Mayor Robert Weitzner - 71 Old Shore Road, Port Washington

Roslyn - Mayor John Durkin - 1200 Nothern Boulevard, Roslyn

Roslyn Harbor - Mayor Yvette Edidin - 500 Motts Cove Road South, Roslyn Harbor

Roslyn Estates - Mayor Jeffrey Schwartzberg - 25 The Tulips, Roslyn

Russell Gardens - Mayor Matthew Bloomfield - 6 Train Drive, Great Neck

Saddle Rock - 18 Masefield Way, Great Neck

Sands Point - Mayor Edward Adler - 26 Tibbits Lane, Sands Point

Thomaston - Mayor Robert Stern - 100 East Shore Road, Great Neck

Westbury - Mayor Peter Cavallaro - 235 Lincoln Place, Westbury

Williston Park - Mayor Paul Ehrbar - 494 Willis Avenue, Williston Park

East Williston - Mayor David Tanner - 2 Prospect Street, East Williston

 In addition, there will be drop off receptacles at the: 

Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont

The Elmont Farmer's Market (on Thursdays just west of Elmont Library)

Port Washington Library, 1 Library Drive, Port Washington

Dolphin Book Shop, 299 Main Street, Port Washington