Bethpage Turkey Drive for Island Harvest Food Bank aims to help local families enjoy the holiday
(Photo courtesy of the Bethpage Credit Union)
The Bethpage Turkey Drive to benefit the Island Harvest Food Bank will take place on Friday, Nov. 19, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 13th annual food drive will include a no-contact donation car drive-through, which will enable community residents to remain in their cars while volunteers remove donations from the vehicles.
Long Islanders are asked to donate frozen turkeys, nonperishable food items or cash donations. These donations will go directly to Island Harvest Food Bank, which will help supply Thanksgiving meals to the more than 300,000 food-insecure Long Islanders through its distribution network of more than 400 food pantries, soup kitchens and other feeding programs on Long Island. Nonperishable food items needed include canned goods, cereal, pasta, rice, boxed juices and shelf-stable milk (please, no glass containers).
(Photo courtesy of the Bethpage Credit Union)
The Bethpage Turkey Drive will take place at Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s headquarters located at 899 South Oyster Bay Rd. in Bethpage.
For those unable to make a donation on Nov. 19, or would rather show their support online, Bethpage is accepting online monetary donations at www.lovebethpage.com/turkeydrive beginning in November, through Friday, Dec. 31. Donations can also be made at any Bethpage branch.
“The year 2020 was a record-breaking one for the turkey drive,” Bethpage Federal Credit Union Senior Vice President Linda Armyn said. “We hope Long Islanders continue to show their support again this year as the need on Long Island is still great. We’ve also taken all necessary safety precautions with the contactless drive-through donation drop-off so everyone should feel very safe.”
(Photo courtesy of the Bethpage Credit Union)
“Thanks to Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s annual turkey drive and the generosity of countless Long Islanders, we’re able to provide a traditional holiday-style meal, complete with a turkey and all the trimmings, to thousands of local families who are struggling to make ends meet,” Island Harvest Food Bank President/CEO Randi Shubin Dresner said. “Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s support extends beyond the holidays. They are a longtime and year-round partner in our mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island, and we are grateful for their caring and support.”
Patches will be given to all Girl Scouts who make a donation. Troop leaders can make a donation on behalf of troop members and bring back patches for the entire troop.
Since the first Bethpage Turkey Drive was organized in 2009, hundreds of community volunteers have come out to assist in the collection of more than 40,000 turkeys and over 168,000 pounds of food, which were then given to Long Island families facing hardship in time for the holidays. Island Harvest Food Bank has seen an increase in the requests for food and support services among the 400 community-based agencies it serves. About 70,000 individuals receive food assistance from the Island Harvest Food Bank network each week.
—Submitted by the Bethpage Federal Credit Union
