Former New York Giants defensive tackle and Super Bowl champion Jay Alford joined local Ford franchise owners and Giants representatives at Trader Joe’s in Hewlett to help collect and transport food donations for veterans through Rock and Wrap It Up!’s Veteran Farmers Market.
The volunteer effort brought together sports, business and community partners to support the Cedarhurst-based nonprofit’s ongoing effort to combat food insecurity among veterans and other community members.
Alford, who played from 2007 to 2010 and was part of the team’s 2008 Super Bowl championship, helped load donated food into trucks before it was transported to Rock and Wrap It Up!’s pantry in Inwood.
“It’s always a good thing, and it makes me feel good,” Alford said. “For me, coming from an inner city, I understand what people tend to have less of. For me to be in this position to help and give back, it means the world.”
Rock and Wrap It Up! founder Syd Mandelbaum, a Cedarhurst resident, said the organization has recovered food from Trader Joe’s in Hewlett for its Veteran Farmers Market three times a week for the past six years.
“The food donations have helped us feed over 100,000 hungry community members,” Mandelbaum said.
The organization distributes recovered food through its pantry in Inwood, where veterans can shop for fresh food and other necessities. Mandelbaum said the Veteran Farmers Market typically serves between 10 and 15 veterans during a distribution, with volunteers helping shoppers fill their bags.
The Sept. 24 volunteer effort marked the first time Giants personnel and Ford franchise owners participated in the food pickup. The Giants and Rock and Wrap It Up! have maintained a relationship for 25 years, according to Mandelbaum.
The Giants have previously worked with the organization at MetLife Stadium, where food from games and other events has been recovered and distributed to people in need.
Mandelbaum said the partnership expanded during the FIFA Club World Cup, when Rock and Wrap It Up! coordinated food recovery from seven games at the stadium, collecting more than 50,000 pounds of food. The organization also received about 60,000 bottles of soda.
The nonprofit has relationships with both the Giants and New York Jets, as well as churches and other community organizations that help distribute recovered food.
“This is an event where Tri-State Ford wanted to do with their owners, their franchisees, and we said, of course,” Mandelbaum said. “Our pantry is a very well-known pantry now, and it’s involved with veterans.”
John Billard, president of Your Local Ford Stores, said the partnership reflects the growing need to address food insecurity.
“Food insecurity is more prevalent than ever, which is why Your Local Ford Stores are stepping up to make a difference,” Billard wrote in a statement “Together with the NY Giants, we’re proud to partner with Rock and Wrap It Up to help feed veterans in our community.”
For Alford, the event was another opportunity to give back to people facing difficult circumstances. He said he volunteers when his schedule allows, including with homeless shelters and Boys & Girls Clubs.
“Coming from a big family, it always hits home whenever they reach out to me,” he said. “So it’s never an issue with them. Always fun.”
For Mandelbaum, the event demonstrated how partnerships can turn surplus food into meaningful support for the community.
“It’ll get the word out of the pantry, helping veterans,” he said, “and more importantly, it’ll help the Giants out, and that’s what we need to do.”
