EAC To Hold Farmingdale Shopping Spree For Children In Need

FARMINGDALE, NY — The Empower Assist Care (EAC) Network is set to host its Holiday Shopping Spree for children in need on Wednesday in Farmingdale.

The event is scheduled from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Walmart, at 965 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, according to the network. The EAC Network is a not-for-profit social service agency that helps approximately 54,000 people in need through 100 programs across Long Island and New York City.

The EAC Network announced Bethpage FCU is donating $10,000 and Summit Health-CityMD is donating $5,000 to help foster care children who might not have a Christmas gift.

The network runs the shopping spree with both donors, as volunteers from Bethpage FCU and Summit Health-CityMD are set to spend the afternoon with each child to assist them as they purchase gifts. For the 2022 holidays, children from the Chance to Advance Program will have $100 each to spend on gifts of their choice.

“We thank Bethpage Credit Union and Summit Health-CityMD for their generosity and continued support of children in need during the holiday season," said Neela Mukherjee Lockel, EAC Network’s president and CEO. "BFCU and Summit Health-CityMD understand the importance of providing support, care and comfort to kids in foster care. This is just one example of that care and comfort."

Children in foster care are at a much higher risk of incarceration, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, lack of self-esteem, and ending up on public assistance, according to the EAC Network. The Chance to Advance Program provides enrichment programs that help develop the educational, artistic, athletic, and cultural talents of children in foster care ages 8 to 21, as well as underprivileged and foster care children in other programs on Long Island.

The average age of children participating in the shopping spree will be between 9 and 15 years of age.

Chance to Advance works to bring meaningful change to the lives of at-risk children and youth in foster care through one-on-one mentoring and life skills workshops and activities with the goal of assisting, caring and empowering children to take control of their lives.

“Chance to Advance is about a toy today but mostly it is a program that provides the support needed for children at risk to become strong and productive adults tomorrow,” said John Durso, chairman of the EAC Board of Directors.