A food pantry in Central Islip that just opened its doors in October 2019 is in dire need of food donations to serve its culturally diverse population, which has been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 virus. Adelante of Suffolk County, (Adelante) runs the Food for Thought Pantry, housed at the Long Island Select Healthcare, Inc. (LISH) at 159 Carleton Avenue in Central Islip.
The food pantry directly serves local residents who suffer from hunger and food insecurity in the predominately Hispanic and Latino communities of Central Islip and neighboring Brentwood, both of which have a reported high number of COVID-19 cases.
“Adelante is providing food and other critical services to those vulnerable communities most in need during this challenging time,” said Robert S. Budd, CEO, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, (FREE). “The community relies on Adelante and similar organizations as their oasis of hope. I urge anyone who is shopping to add just one or two items to their list and please donate to our food bank.”
Food for Thought is currently opened on Thursdays and shoppers must call for an “appointment” so that they can stagger the shoppers and adhere to social distancing.
In addition, Adelante is currently home delivering lunches each day to about 45 senior citizens who usually attend Adelante’s Senior Nutrition Program located in Brentwood which has closed due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The program for seniors offers healthy nutrition, recreation and health care with lunch, zumba classes, workshops, transportation, mail translations, doctor appointments, among others services and due to the pandemic Adelante had to reinvent its services for participants.
Food donations of non-perishable goods can be dropped off at Adelante’s main office located at 10 Third Avenue, Brentwood, NY 11717-4640, or call 631-434-3481 if you have questions.
Adelante is an affiliate of Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), a not-for-profit agency that supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury.
