Mineola, NY— Recently, Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip joined with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Long Island Cares/Harry Chapin Food Bank CEO Paule Pachter, TV Personality and Activist Emily Austin and Former NBA Star and Human Rights Activist Enes Kanter Freedom to discuss the alarming increase in food insecurity on Long Island and the start of a food drive aimed at restocking area food pantries between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The food drive will run through December 15th and there are drop off locations in county buildings and facilities throughout Nassau County. Donations should be non-perishable food items. For a list of drop-off locations please visit www.nassaucountyny.gov.
“Despite the easing of the pandemic that we all experienced over the past several years, the higher cost of food has resulted in a dramatic increase of food insecurity across Long Island,” Legislator Pilip said. According to Long Island Cares, the increase is 60 percent higher since 2020, and now affects an estimated 20 percent of LI’s population or over 300,000 families. The food drive is a great opportunity to give back to the community and help those in need especially during the holiday season.”
Shown in photo, left to right: Enes Kanter Freedom, Emily Austin, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Legislator Pilip, and Paule Pachter.