4K Meals To Be Made For Huntington Residents By Local Restaurants

HUNTINGTON, NY — Food-insecure Town of Huntington residents are set to get 4,000 free meals thanks to a partnership between the Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank of Long Island Cares, St. Hugh of Lincoln Church in Huntington Station, and three local eateries, according to a news release from Long Island Cares.

The event is due to be held, rain or shine, at 3 p.m. March 6 in the parking lot of St. Hugh of Lincoln, at 21 E. 9th St., Huntington Station.

The food – complete meals and soups ready to be microwaved at home – will be prepared by Huntington restaurants Prime and RaCha Thai Cuisine, as well as Blind Bat Brewery Bistro in Centerport.

Funding for the event has been provided by New York State’s Restaurant Resiliency Program, which granted $794,000 to Long Island Cares in October to purchase meals from qualified restaurants. Long Island Cares has 24 restaurants participating in its program, ranging from New Hyde Park to Hampton Bays.

Paule Pachter, CEO of Long Island Cares, said the organization is excited about the distribution and is grateful to the restaurants helping out.

"Many of our neighbors who struggle to put nutritious food on their family table often do not
have the resources to visit a restaurant like Prime, RaCha or Blind Bat Brewery Bistro," Pachter said. "Being able to pick up the 4,000 meals that Long Island Cares will be distributing will give them this opportunity."

The Restaurant Resiliency Program was launched in October and is set to run through the end of March. It has provided 10 New York food banks with $25 million to purchase and distribute restaurant meals at food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.

Gov. Kathy Hochul started the program to provide relief to restaurants struggling through the coronavirus pandemic. Pachter is advocating for an extension of the program through 2022.

"I’m hopeful that New York State will agree to extend the Restaurant Resiliency Program for another few months, since it has been so successful in providing prepared and delicious meals to so many families," Pachter said.

Long Island Cares and its member agencies have already distributed more than 23,000 meals to families in need. The Hauppauge organization has met with Hochul's representatives and its restaurant partners to discuss how meaningful the program has been for restaurants and the people who need the food, according to Pachter.