Helping the needy move stability year-round

To help the needy, local service agencies collect food from individual donations and drives, but they also need volunteers, according to officials at Mineola's Island Harvest and the Faith Mission's Pope Francis Hospitality Center in Elmont.

Across Long Island in 2016, Island Harvest assisted 316,000 people, primarily giving them food, but the organization also helps people with job training, nutritional education and completing applications for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, according to Island Harvest spokesman Don Miller.While the holidays are a popular time for giving, Miller stressed that people always need help, and encouraged donations anytime. "Hunger is a year-round issue on Long Island, and we help those who need it," he said. "We look to help people move from uncertainty to stability."

During the holidays, Island Harvest receives all kinds of donations, but frozen turkeys, hams and chicken are most popular, according to Miller. Throughout the year, the organization collects non-perishables such as baby food and diapers, cereals and dry goods. Island Harvest is also known for providing fresh produce. Farmers on Long Island and individuals who grow specifically for Island Harvest collectively donated 2.3 million pounds of it in 2016, with an expectation of even more in 2017.

"We're offering healthier options to give to those we serve," Miller said. "Like, for example, our senior citizens with special dietary restrictions. We want to make sure they're getting what they need. We've also got a Five Towns donation site that considers kosher needs."

While food is a necessary donation, volunteers are also needed, according to Carlos Gutierrez, a spokesman for Faith Mission's Pope Francis Hospitality Center. Faith Mission is a nonprofit that sponsors the Elmont charity, which is headquartered in the basement of the St. Vincent de Paul church and rectory in Elmont. Those in need can get breakfast and lunch services on Saturdays. Faith Mission also sponsors efforts at two other sites: the Salvation Army in Hempstead, where people can get showers and a hot meal on Saturdays, and the St. Paul's Episcopal church in Roosevelt, where they can eat on Mondays. "We ask businesses for food and pick up our donations on Fridays for Saturday morning," Gutierrez said. "At our Elmont site we serve hot food and have lots of volunteers to serve. Some volunteers come every Saturday, while others only come one time."

The challenge of a food drive is the pickup, Gutierrez explained. Many people want to give, and the volume of boxes and cans adds up. It can be a daunting task to sort through all the food to see what can be salvaged and what needs to be thrown out."I can't lift too much, as I have heart problems," Gutierrez said. "If we had more volunteers, we'd show them how to help, and it would make things easier. We need more people to come to help on a regular basis. We try to select volunteers who have a vested interest in our program and are here to help, as opposed to fulfill[ing] a requirement for something like community service hours. ... It should be more than an obligation."

On average, the center expects 100 people for a meal every Saturday, according to Mary Joesten, the founder of Faith Mission, who works with Gutierrez. For three years, people have come to Elmont to join Joesten and the volunteers for a weekend meal. Most are from the Elmont area, but some come from as far away as Long Beach and Islip. About 20 volunteers usually come on Saturdays."I think they're very happy, the ones that come," said Joesten. "I want to make everyone's life a little easier."