Island Harvest to hold Taste of the Harvest celebration

Former Rockville Centre resident Linda Breitstone is set to be honored at Island Harvest’s 16th annual Taste of the Harvest celebration, on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. In what has become one of Long Island’s best known, and widely attended fundraisers, the “Taste of the Harvest” will raise money to help Island Harvest in its fight against hunger on Long Island.

  Over 36 of Long Island’s best-known restaurants, caterers, country clubs and other eateries will again be on hand to showcase their best array of epicurean accomplishments to please even the most discriminating palates.

  The special guest of honor will be Breitstone, who started Island Harvest in 1992 when she lived in Rockville Centre. Armed with a cooler, a station wagon, and a strong desire to help people in need, Breitstone was infuriated that food from a local convenience store was being thrown away at the end of the day — with a soup kitchen just doors away. Her anger turned to action and Island Harvest was born. Since then, the organization has served as the bridge between those with excess food and those who need it, delivering over 50 million pounds of food, supplementing more than 38 million meals and establishing it as Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization.

  Often billed as “not your typical rubber-chicken fundraising dinners,” the “Taste of the Harvest “ will feature a silent auction with scores of exciting merchandise, sports memorabilia and much more. Among the items to be auctioned include New York Islanders tickets, an autographed Joe Namath football and training sessions with the U.S. Marines.

  Tickets for the “Taste of the Harvest” are $295, with sponsorship and Scroll of Honor opportunities still available. For more information, contact Elissa Weick at 516-294-8528 or e-mail elissa@ islandharvest.org.