The Valley Stream Lions Club marked Valentine’s Day with an effort focused not on flowers or candy, but on meeting a critical community need.
On Feb. 14 the club held a food drive, collecting donations for the Holy Name of Mary Food Pantry and Distribution Center.
“We’ve been doing food drives for years, but this time of year, the food banks and shelves are kind of empty after the holidays,” club President Jim Zabatta said. “So we try to stock them up for the winter to help out the local families.”
While donations typically increase during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, demand at local pantries continues long after the holidays. By mid-February, many organizations face dwindling supplies as families continue to rely on assistance to get through the winter months. The club coordinated the drive to address that seasonal gap and offer meaningful support when it is most needed.
Zabatta said that supporting those in need is central to the mission of the Lions Clubs International, which he described as the largest humanitarian service organization in the world, with 1.4 million members. A major focus of the Lions globally is providing eyeglasses and hearing aids to those who need them. At the local level, the Valley Stream chapter raises funds and supports community groups, including outreach programs, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, the Fire Department and Little League. The club responds to requests for assistance from a range of local organizations and works throughout the year to generate funds that can be reinvested in the community.
According to Secretary Don Pupke, the club has served the community since 1948. Over the decades it has maintained its focus on service, adapting its efforts to meet changing needs while remaining rooted in its original mission. Pupke noted that the club raises money within the community and donates every dollar it collects to charitable causes, emphasizing that funds do not remain in the club’s accounts but are redistributed to support local initiatives.
“We have a lot of good people here who are very community-minded, who are doing good work for the community,” Pupke said. “And the food drive is a good example of that.”
About 10 members at a time staffed the collection effort, ensuring coverage throughout the day. Volunteers distributed prepared bags to shoppers as they entered the store, each stapled with a list of items most needed by the pantry. Donors then purchased the requested goods and returned the filled bags before leaving. The organized system streamlined the process and made participation simple for shoppers.
By the end of the day, members transported seven carloads of food, filling the pantry’s garage.
“The weather has been so crappy and cold, we didn’t know if we were going to have a decent day or not, but we were committed to doing this for the food pantry, and that’s what the Lions Club is about,” Pupke said. “It’s not about our comfort; it’s about making sure that we’re able to help the community.”
In addition to food donations, the drive raised $950, which will be donated to local food pantries. Club members said the funds will be distributed to area organizations and will not remain in club accounts. The financial contributions will complement the physical donations, allowing pantries flexibility to purchase items in short supply.
The pantry provided the Lions with a list of most-needed items, including paper goods such as paper towels and toilet tissue, as well as shelf-stable foods like peanut butter, jelly, tuna and canned chicken. By working directly from the pantry’s list, the club ensured donations aligned with current demand rather than relying on guesswork.
Beyond the local drive, the Valley Stream Lions Club also participates in broader regional initiatives. In addition, Lions Clubs across Nassau County, including Valley Stream, collectively raised $150,000 to purchase a refrigerated truck for Long Island Cares, a hunger-relief organization. The truck is currently being built. The effort required individual clubs to commit to raising designated amounts, which were then matched through a grant, enabling the purchase of a vehicle to expand food distribution capacity.
For the Valley Stream Lions Club, the food drive reflects its broader mission: responding to community needs whenever and wherever they arise. Through coordinated volunteer efforts, targeted fundraising and partnerships with local organizations, the club continues a tradition of service that has defined it for generations.
