HAPPAUGE, NY (TIP): Senator John E. Brooks (SD-8) was proud to present a funding grant of $25,000 to Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank to help support their Hope for the Homeless program. Since its creation in 1980 by the late Harry Chapin, Long Island Cares had been on a mission to feed Long Island’s community and to stamp out the root causes of hunger. Their Hope for the Homeless program currently provides mobile outreach, including emergency food, supplies, and linkages to other resources, to approximately 800 homeless individuals – many of them veterans – on a monthly basis. In August 2022 alone, the Hope for the Homeless program distributed nearly 1,000 meals throughout Nassau and Suffolk. When able, the organization also assists community members with securing housing or by providing housing referrals.

Having been involved with Long Island Cares since they were first established, Senator Brooks stated, “We are exceptionally fortunate that we have an agency like Long Island Cares that is able to reach those most in need, and that is so in tune with the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community, including our pets. I have seen the work they do — how many people they are actually able to help — and I have been to many of their facilities and have worked in their warehouse to get items ready. I know the needs on Long Island are very high, so I just think it is a wonderful organization. I have seen firsthand the good work they do here, so I am very proud that I was able to secure this funding grant for them – anything I can do to help, I will do.”

Because of the funding grant that Senator Brooks was able to secure, Long Island Cares will be able to provide 33,750 pounds of food, or 28,000 meals, to be distributed throughout the Long Island Community. Founded in 2011, Hope for the Homeless provides ready-to-eat food and personal care items to the street homeless on a weekly basis. For further information, please visit https://www.licares.org/.