Long Island Cares Inc./The Harry Chapin Food Bank

Joseph W. Brown, President
Sandy Chapin, Chairperson
Paule Pachter, Executive Director

Founded in 1980 by renowned singer, songwriter and social activist Harry Chapin, Long Island Cares, Inc./The Harry Chapin Food Bank is devoted to feeding Long Island's hungry and to educating the general public about the many causes and severe consequences of hunger in our communities.

At its inception 35 years ago, the organization was the region's first food bank. Today -- through its central facility in Hauppauge and its three service centers in Freeport, Lindenhurst and Huntington Station -- it serves more than 600 community-based agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, childcare programs, senior nutrition sites, disability organizations and veterans' services.

Led by Harry Chapin's wife and partner Sandy Chapin, a dedicated Board of Directors and a talented staff, the work of Long Island Cares, Inc./The Harry Chapin Food Bank saves lives. The organization battles hunger on a daily basis, distributing more than 7 million pounds of nutritional food each year. Their members are committed to providing emergency food when and where it is needed.

Long Island Cares, Inc./The Harry Chapin Food Bank provides a wide variety of vital programs and crucial support services including on-site triage food pantries, supplemental food programs for children, the provision of new school supplies, hunger education, vocational training and job development, and legislative advocacy. It also sponsors innovative, direct service programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency.

Long Island Cares Inc./Harry Chapin Food Bank is a member of the Food Bank Association of New York State and Feeding America. It is recognized by the New York State Department of Health, the Department of Nutrition and the Emergency Feeding Program of the USDA as Long Island's regional food bank. It is rated as a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and is accredited by the New York Philanthropic Service of the Better Business Bureau.

"Long Island Cares is one of the region's most comprehensive hunger action organizations," wrote the organization's award nominator. "Its mission is to bring together all available resources for the benefit of Long Island's hungry and to provide for the humanitarian needs of our community."