Hauppauge, NY - July 6, 2015 - Randi Shubin Dresner, President & CEO, Island Harvest and Doreen Principe, Senior Food Drive Coordinator, Island Harvest, were recently recognized in front of the Town of Oyster Bay Town Board where they were invited in gratitude for their work to help end hunger in the Town of Oyster Bay, as well as celebrate those local Town residents, who have helped make a difference.  In partnership with the Town since 2007, Island Harvest has been the recipient of more than 35,000 pounds of food collected through ongoing local food drives, hosted by the Town of Oyster Bay.

“We are honored to be working with Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto and the Town of Oyster Bay, which has been hosting food drives to benefit Island Harvest since 2007,” stated Randi Shubin Dresner.  “One in every 10 Long Islanders receives food from the Island Harvest network, totaling close to 316,000 Long Islanders.  In the Town of Oyster Bay alone, we have 17 emergency and community based member agencies to help make an impact in the community, and the food collected each year from local Town residents has had a huge impact on the response work of Island Harvest.  We are grateful for this partnership.”

“Over the last eight years, the Town of Oyster Bay has proudly joined with Island Harvest Food Bank in their important work to solve hunger on Long Island,” said Supervisor Venditto. “Our residents and our employees have supported the Town’s food drive efforts and they should take pride in the results so far. However, as impressive as this is, there is still much work to do as hunger affects one in 10 Long Islanders. The Town of Oyster Bay will continue to support Island Harvest and its vital mission of ending hunger on Long Island. Island Harvest is truly an outstanding organization whose tireless efforts have made a difference in the lives of many.”

Since 1992, Island Harvest has grown to become the largest hunger relief organization in the region, feeding and supporting 316,000 Long Islanders annually, helping to change the lives of millions.  By relying on volunteers, in-kind services, and donated food, more than .95 cents of every dollar donated to Island Harvest directly benefits Island Harvest’s robust programs and initiatives.

With a mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island, Island Harvest has pioneered innovative and effective food and product collection and distribution systems, hunger awareness and nutrition education programs, job training programs, services for targeted populations, and outreach and advocacy initiatives.  Island Harvest is the region’s leading agency in disaster relief and emergency response readiness for food and product distribution, support and services.  Island Harvest is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

Pictured: Island Harvest President and CEO Randi Shubin Dresner (front row, second from right) and Island Harvest Senior Food Drive Coordinator Doreen Principe (front row, right) were recently recognized by the Town of Oyster Bay Board including Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto (front row second from left) and Town Board members Councilman Joseph D. Muscarella (center), Councilman Anthony D. Macagnone (back row third from left), Councilman Chris J. Coschignano (back row second from left), Councilman Joseph G. Pinto (left), Councilwoman Rebecca M. Alesia (front row left), Councilwoman Michele M. Johnson (back row third from right), Town Clerk James Altadonna Jr. (back row second from right) and Receiver of Taxes James J. Stefanich (right) in a special ceremony that recognized Island Harvest’s exemplary work towards ending hunger on Long Island.

Island Harvest in turn presented Supervisor Venditto with a plaque celebrating the 35,000 lbs of food that the Town has helped collect since 2007.