Albany, NY - November 27, 2013 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today visited food pantries and community centers in Westchester County, the Bronx, and Long Island to help deliver Thanksgiving donations to New Yorkers in need. The Governor made deliveries with members of the New York National Guard to the Nepperhan Community Center in Yonkers, Part of the Solution (POTS) in the Bronx, the Kennedy Memorial Park Community Room in Hempstead, and Long Island Cares, Inc. in Hauppauge.

Click here for photos of the Governor's visits today.

 

“Thanksgiving is about gathering with family and friends and celebrating the spirit of giving with others, especially those less fortunate,” Governor Cuomo said. “Today, I was pleased to be able to lend a hand at several community centers and food pantries with my daughter Cara to deliver Thanksgiving meals to New Yorkers in need. As we continue to enjoy this holiday season, I encourage New Yorkers who can to do their part by donating or volunteering at a local food bank or soup kitchen. Together we can make the holidays a little brighter for our neighbors.”

 

Yesterday, the Governor also expressed what he is thankful for.

 

He said, “First and foremost, I am thankful that my three girls will be with me, two of them are up in college now so I miss them and don’t get to see them. They will be with me and they are doing very well. That’s probably top of the list. That’s tough now, there are a lot of ways to get into trouble and I see too many young people getting into and I am blessed with my 3 girls. I still have my parents with me and that’s a special blessing. I am thankful for that. And I am doing a job that I truly love and I am so thankful for the people of this state for giving me the chance to do public service.”

 

Click here for the audio. The comments were made as part of an interview on The Capitol Pressroom with Susan Arbetter.

 

The Thanksgiving donations today were provided by a partnership with Walmart, PepsiCo and FreshDirect. The meals were provided by Walmart; PepsiCo donated 2,800 beverages, including juice and other drinks, and FreshDirect provided 3,000 boxes to help with the transport and delivery of goods.

 

Governor Cuomo continues to encourage New Yorkers and businesses to help meet the increased need for emergency food this holiday season by donating or volunteering at their local food pantry or church. New Yorkers can visit the following websites or call one of the eight regional food banks for more information about making a donation in their community if they cannot find a location nearby:

 

• Food Bank of Western New York (located in Buffalo), 716-852-1305 Foodlink (located in Rochester), 585-328-3380
• Food Bank of the Southern Tier (located in Elmira), 607-796-6061
• Food Bank of Central New York (located in Syracuse), 315-437-1899
• Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York (located in Latham with a satellite facility, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, at Cornwall-on-Hudson), 518-786-3691
• Food Bank For Westchester (located in Elmsford), 914-923-1100
• Food Bank For New York City, 212-566-7855
• Long Island Cares, Inc./The Harry Chapin Food Bank (located in Hauppauge), 631-582-3663

Items in highest demand by emergency food providers include:

 

• canned meat (chicken, turkey, tuna fish, canned chili with beans) – lower sodium versions preferred;
• peanut butter and lower sodium canned beans (particularly kidney and pinto, due to the high protein content);
• canned vegetables (corn, peas, carrots, green beans, white and sweet potatoes) – lower sodium versions preferred;
• canned fruit (peaches, apricots, oranges) packed in fruit juice;
• shelf stable 1% or fat free fluid milk (UHT box pack);
• canned pasta meals containing 7 or more grams of protein per serving (i.e. spaghetti-meatballs) – lower sodium versions preferred;
• cereal containing 3 or more grams of fiber per serving;
• pasta – whole wheat and whole grain varieties appreciated; and
• rice and instant brown rice

Photo of Gov. Cuomo delivering food donation in Hauppauge via Gov. Cuomo's official Flickr Page.