Helping Long Island's Hungry

My title may seem like an oxymoron to you, since Long Island is viewed as a rich area, but there are many families who can not keep up with the pace of day-to-day living expenses here on Long Island.  They are just making ends meet paycheck to paycheck.  We have many soup kitchens and food pantries in action. 

I recently found out that Long Island Cares, Inc., and The Harry Chapin Food Bank have been a great resource for residents in need.  To aid in this fight, there will be an "Acoustic Long Island Winter Concert" at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts on February 9, 2008, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.  You can enjoy an evening of great music and help build up the food resources for our pantries and soup kitchens.

According to a 2005 study by Long Island Cares and Island Harvest, the number of people visiting food pantries is up 67%, while the numbers of those turning to soup kitchens and shelters have increased by 54% and 34%, respectively.  Some of these food pantries and soup kitchens have been forced to turn people away due to lack of food resources.

To obtain tickets for this concert, or for more information, call 631-207-1313.  Those unable to attend the concert but who would still like to contribute can visit http://www.licares.org/.  Long Island Cares is also sponsoring a "Holiday Tribute Gift" project, where donors may make contributions in someone's name.  The gift recipient will receive a personalized card informing them that a gift has been made in their name to the food bank.

As little as $30.00 will feed a family of four for two days; $105.00 gift will feed a family of four for one week.  I don't know about you, but $30.00 is what I used to pay when I got my nails done every two weeks for a fill-in, plus tip.  My son has been volunteering at a local soup kitchen since April of this year, and I know that he feels a great sense of responsibility to make sure he is there every Thursday afternoon after school to fulfill his duties for them, as well as having more of an appreciation for what we have.

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are based on Long Island, New York, and offer interior decorating, redesign, home staging and color consultations.  Please visit our website at www.creativehomeexpressions.com for more information about our services.