Stop & Shop Responds to Emergency Request and Provides Weekend Meals to 80 Huntington Youngsters

(L-R) Robin Amato, Chief Development Officer, Long Island Cares, Debbie Rimler, Tri CYA Director, Cindy Carrasquilla, Manager of Public Relations and Community Relations, Stop & Shop - New York Metro and Huntington Councilwoman Tracey Edwards with donated food at the Stop and Shop in Dix Hills

Stop & Shop made an emergency donation of perishable and non-perishable food items to Tri CYA a private, not-for-profit community based organization dedicated to supporting the growth and development of youth and their families in Huntington, South Huntington and Cold Spring Harbor, benefiting eighty youngsters in the program who come from families in need.

Stop & Shop’s donation was in response to a request for assistance from Huntington Town Council Member Tracey Edwards. “Thank you to Stop and Shop and all the other service organizations in our community. This is an example of what we can do when we all work together on a common goal,” said Edwards.

Stop & Shop provided the following items: milk, cream cheese, butter, vegetables, fresh fruit and kid favorites such as hotdogs, soup, macaroni, ravioli, Lunchables, Pop Tarts and juice.

“Stop & Shop is pleased that our efforts can provide food and nourishment to youngsters in need,” said Cindy Carrasquilla, Manager of Public Relations and Community Relations Stop & Shop New York Metro. “It is our privilege to lend assistance to those in the Huntington community who make sure that children are cared for.”

Service organizations also assisting Tri CYA at this time of need include: Townwide Fund of Huntington, Leadership Huntington, American Legion Greenlawn Post 1244, Boy Scouts of America, Suffolk County Girl Scouts, Huntington Community First Aid Squad, Huntington Public Library, South Huntington Public Library, Huntington Chamber of Commerce, YMCA of Huntington, Kiwanis, Dale Carnegie & Associates, The Money Source Inc., HORC leadership Council, Workforce Development Institute, NAACP, Huntington Station BID, Suffolk County Department of Labor, The Lions Club, Rotary Club,The Loyal Order of the Moose and various individual residents.

“Our children and their families are most appreciative of Stop & Shop’s assistance,” said Tri CYA Director, Debbie Rimler. “I am very grateful that all these groups have banded together to address food insecurity over the weekends. This donation will make a huge difference in many households and for many youths. Thank you so much.”

“Summer Hunger is a serious issue here on Long Island and we are pleased that Stop & Shop has stepped up to help this great organization,” said Robin Amato, the Chief Development Officer of Long Island Cares Inc. The Harry Chapin Food Bank. “Moving forward we will be talking to the Tri CYA about utilizing our Children’s Breakfast Food Trucks to ensure that these children have nutritious weekend meals all year round.”

According to Feeding America’s most recent Hunger Study, 39 percent of Long Islanders who receive emergency food are children under 18 years old. While children are among the largest single population of hungry, they have virtually no voice; their needs are easily dismissed and overlooked, and they must rely on others to access the feeding programs and services they need.