Answering the call to end hunger on L.I.

Arlene Putterman, manager of publicity and community relations for Stop & Shop, invited students from Lynbrook North and South middle schools to join her organization in its efforts to help Island Harvest end childhood hunger on Long Island.

Courtesy Rosemary Leonetti/Syntax

Student representatives from Lynbrook North and South middle schools helped Dresner, left, and Arlene Putterman, far right, of Stop & Shop, kick off a food drive challenge.

Courtesy Rosemary Leonetti/Syntax

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Answering a call to help end childhood hunger on Long Island, Lynbrook North and South middle schools teamed up with Stop & Shop supermarket to participate in a food drive challenge to benefit Island Harvest. Students from both schools gathered at North Middle School on Feb. 20 for a kickoff assembly. The two schools will be competing in a four-week campaign to see who can collect the most food for Island Harvest. The food they collect will be combined with a $225,000 cash donation from Stop & Shop. Representatives from Stop & Shop and Island Harvest thanked the students for joining them in their ongoing efforts to help end childhood hunger on Long Island.

“More than 110,000 children on Long Island access our food network — that’s enough hungry children to more than fill Yankee Stadium and Citi Field,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. “That means that there are lots of families that have to choose between food and other essentials like rent, gas and electricity. Island Harvest is part of the solution to this dilemma. If both of your schools collect as much food as they can, you will all be winners by helping us get the message out there so we can finally eradicate hunger on Long Island.”

“Stop & Shop has made a three-year commitment to donate $6 million to fight childhood hunger,” said Arlene Putterman, manager of publicity and community relations for Stop & Shop. “Of that money, $600,000 is staying right here on Long Island to benefit Island Harvest and Long Island Cares. It is up to you for the next four weeks to collect as much food as you can to supplement the $225,000 we are giving to Island Harvest today.”

Over the course of the next four weeks, the two schools will be competing to see who can collect the most food for this worthy cause. There will be donation boxes set up in each homeroom and in the lobby of each building. Local residents are invited to support their efforts by dropping off donations of nonperishable food items to either school.