Thursday, October 1, 2026
If you compiled the list of history’s most impactful Long Islanders, Harry Chapin would undoubtedly be among the charter members of that hall of fame.
Musically, Chapin’s prowess is indisputable: In just nine years he released 12 albums, filled with songs like “Taxi,” “W.O.L.D,” “Circle,” “Sequel,” and of course, “Cat’s In the Cradle,” that cemented his legacy as a magnificent musical storyteller.
He then used his fame as a springboard for advocacy and philanthropy, with a laser focus on his mission to eradicate hunger in the United States in particular. As one of the world’s highest-paid entertainers, he gave generously to charitable causes, hosted numerous benefit concerts, launched World Hunger Year (now known as WhyHunger) and established the Presidential Commission on World Hunger during the administration of President Jimmy Carter.
The organization that now bears his name is perhaps his greatest innovation. When Chapin launched Long Island Cares in 1980, he created Long Island’s first food bank, and in doing so revolutionized our regional approach to addressing food insecurity and hunger.
Long Island Cares distributes 16 million pounds of food each year — the equivalent of 13.3 million meals — and now has a half-dozen brick-and-mortar storefront locations across Long Island. The agency was instrumental in addressing crises like Hurricane Sandy and the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. And because no member of the family is spared from hunger, its seventh location, Baxter’s Pet Pantry, is dedicated to gathering and distributing pet food and supplies to families in need.
As much as many of us — myself included — shudder at the idea of another celebrity candidate for political office, Chapin would have been a natural, because he did the work and cared deeply about the future. Sadly, he never got that chance. On July 16, 1981, while he was driving to a benefit concert at Eisenhower Park, Chapin’s Volkswagen was hit by an 18-wheeler on the Long Island Expressway, and he was fatally injured.
The shock of his sudden, untimely death reverberated through the park on that summer evening and through our society for years afterward. He would be cited as an inspiration for endeavors like USA For Africa and Live Aid, and countless memorial awards, theaters and humanitarian events would be named in his honor.
Neighboring municipalities like Suffolk County have declared July 16 Harry Chapin Day in honor of all he achieved in just 38 years. Here in Nassau County, I filed legislation to formally establish a Harry Chapin Day of our own. While there hasn’t been any action from the legislative majority on that front, I decided to instead follow Harry’s own advice: “When in doubt, do something!”
For the past five years, my office has held an annual summer food drive to benefit Long Island Cares and draw renewed attention to Chapin’s legacy. This year’s effort concluded last Sunday. I thank our wonderful friends at the Plainview-Old Bethpage, Syosset and Jericho Libraries for once again graciously opening their facilities to us as drop-off locations, and I appreciate everyone who brough donations to National Night Out in Hicksville.
Among the many lessons of the past several years, we have all been confronted with the hard truth that far more of our neighbors struggle silently with food insecurity than we imagine. Amid a souring economy, soaring fuel prices, and massive federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program resulting from the Trump administration’s odious and inhumane 2025 federal budget legislation, Chapin’s mission is even more critically important now — especially when you consider how 1.5 million children lost SNAP assistance in the aftermath of that legislation’s enactment.
At this time of tremendous need, let’s unite — as Nassau County residents, New Yorkers and Americans — to create a better and more humane place for future generations. As Long Island’s hometown troubadour, Harry Chapin, said about times like these, “We all have the potential to move the world, and the world is ready to be moved.”
Arnold W. Drucker represents Nassau County’s 16th Legislative District.
