Long Island Cares Opening in Lindenhurst on Friday

Long Island Cares, Incorporated-The Harry Chapin Food Bank will open a new storefront community assistance center in the Village of Lindenhurst on March 1 to assist local communities still in need of emergency food, pet food, cleaning and other types of supplies in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

The New Lindy Location
The new LI Cares location - at 163-1 North Wellwood Avenue - will also be instituting a Small Grants Assistance Program to help subsidize the replacement of essential appliances lost as a result of Hurricane Sandy, according to the non-profit in a release about the opening.

"Applications for assistance of small grants of up to $1,000 will be able to be acquired from the new Lindenhurst location after March 1, 2013," LI Cares said.

Based upon the organization's successful Nassau Service Center in Freeport, the New Long Island Cares South Shore Service Center in Lindenhurst is being funded by a grant from The Robin Hood Foundation with additional support being provided by private donations, corporate sponsorship and local government.

The new location will initially function as Long Island Cares' Emergency Response and Recovery Services Center addressing the needs of the Lindenhurst, Babylon, Copiague, Amityville and surrounding communities' needs for support during the long-term recovery following the impact of Hurricane Sandy on Suffolk's South Shore.

"Our South Shore Service Center will initially provide storm-related assistance to the Lindenhurst, Copiague, Amityville and Babylon communities as per our contract with The Robin Hood Foundation. However, other residents in need of emergency food are encouraged to contact us, and we'll publish our new telephone number early next week," said LI Cares on its Facebook page on Thursday afternoon.

In addition to providing food and supplies, the new location will be open five days a week, one evening and on Saturdays to assist the community during various times, according to the non-profit in the release.

"The Center will feature an emergency food pantry, training and conference room, and will be staffed by volunteers and newly hired personnel. In an effort to enhance collaboration within the community, Long Island Cares will make desk space and meeting space available to local organizations and groups including Project Hope," said LI Cares in the release.

Why Lindy Was Chosen
According to Paule Pachter, Executive Director of Long Island Cares in the release about the new location, "We chose the Lindenhurst location to launch our second storefront assistance center because of the way Lindenhurst pulled together immediately following Hurricane Sandy."

He continued, "We've been working with the Village of Lindenhurst, the Town of Bablyon, Camp Bulldog and Adopt a House, and have been very enlightened by our collaborations in working to respond to the needs of the community. We're looking forward to a long, productive relationship, and are excited to be opening on March 1, and very grateful to The Robin Hood Foundation for their very generous support and the way they've worked with us over the past few weeks to bring this new initative to reality."

Prepping for the Opening
The new Long Island Cares' South Shore Service Center will be located at 163-1 North Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst.

"Long Island Cares, Incorporated will open our new South Shore Service Center at 163-1 North Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst this coming Friday, March 1, at 8 a.m. Staff is very busy moving in the food, cleaning supplies, small appliances, comforters, baby food, pet food, and other items that'll be available for those communities still in need of these supports in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Thank you to so many of our new neighbors who stopped by during the week to welcome us to Lindenhurst," the non-profit wrote on Thursday afternoon on its Facebook page.

For more information please call 631-582-FOOD. For information about sponsorship related to this new program initiative or to support our Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, please call 631-582-3663, extension 103.

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