Paule T. Pachter of North Bellmore, executive director at Long Island Cares, Inc., the Harry Chapin Food Bank, was one of the early speakers to address New York Governor David Patterson's Economic Security Cabinet at a public hearing last week at Farmingdale State College. The Governor's Economic Security Cabinet has been receiving testimony and comments from the public during a statewide tour aimed at soliciting feedback on the governor's priorities.
Mr. Pachter spoke about the growing problem of hunger on Long Island as a result of both the national and statewide recession.
"Our member agencies, which total more than 560 food pantries, soup kitchens and other community based programs are reporting an increaseof between 25-30 percent in the number of new families experiencing hunger in one of the more affluent region of the state," said Mr. Pachter. According to Pachter, "Too many families with children, senior citizens and those less fortunate are turning to anti-hunger programs for assistance as a result of the high cost of fuel, food and housing on Long Island, and New York State must insure that the process for applying for such programs as food stamps, health benefits and foreclosure assistance is simplified."
Guiding the cabinet’s work has been the governor’s commitment to working families including establishing new initiatives to provide easy access to the full range of benefits and tax credits that the state and federal governments provide and creating a worlkforce development system to support the needs of lower-wage workers and their employers through better coordination and alignment with the education and economic development sectors.
Long Island Cares, The Harry Chapin Food Bank is a leading anti-hunger organization and the only food bank on Long Island. Long Island Cares brings together all available resources for the benefit of the hungry on Long Island and provides emergency food where and when it is needed, sponsors programs that seek to heighten public awareness about the issue of hunger on Long Island, and provide skills to foster self-sufficiency among the population that benefits from their services.
The organization was founded in 1980 by the late singer/activist Harry Chapin in response to the immediate needs of hungry Long Islanders. It is continued today by his wife and partner Sandy Chapin, a dedicated Board of Directors and talented staff working out of their 35,000 square foot complex in Hauppauge.
If you would like to volunteer to assist in the sorting of food donations, or to learn more about Long Island Cares, The Harry Chapin Food Bank call (631) 582-FOOD or log onto www.licares.org
Robin Amato is a spokeswoman for Long Island Cares.