Island Harvest Ltd

THE MISSION OF ISLAND HARVEST IS TO END HUNGER AND REDUCE FOOD WASTE ON LONG ISLAND.

SEE SCHEDULE OTHE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FOOD AND NON-FOOD ITEMS, AND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO LONG ISLANDERS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, ADULTS, SENIORS, VETERANS, AND FAMILIES OF ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS WHO ARE LIVING WITH FOOD INSECURITY AND IN NEED, HELPING THEM TRANSITION FROM UNCERTAINTY TO STABILITY. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN NEED ACROSS LONG ISLAND ACCORDING TO THE HUNGER IN AMERICA 2014 SURVEY THROUGH FEEDING AMERICA, THE NATION'S LEADING DOMESTIC HUNGER-RELIEF ORGANIZATION. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO END HUNGER AND REDUCE FOOD WASTE ON LONG ISLAND THROUGH AN EFFICIENT FOOD AND PRODUCT COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, ENHANCED HUNGER AWARENESS AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMS, JOB TRAINING, TARGETED SERVICES FOR SPECIFIC POPULATIONS, AND OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES THAT RECOGNIZE THAT IT TAKES MUCH MORE THAN A CAN OF FOOD TO END HUNGER ON LONG ISLAND. THREE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S LARGER INITIATIVES NOW INCLUDE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ("SNAP, OR FOOD STAMP) ENROLLMENT PROGRAM, ORGANIC FARMING, AND NUTRITION-PLUS SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATION IS AMONG THE REGION'S LEADING AGENCIES IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE READINESS FOR FOOD AND PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION, AND SUPPORT, AND IS A MEMBER OF FEEDING AMERICA. THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1992 BY LONG ISLANDER LINDA BREITSTONE, IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE A BRIDGE BETWEEN THOSE WHO HAD EXCESS FOOD AND THOSE WHO NEEDED IT. SHE BEGAN COLLECTING GOODS, SURPLUS FOOD THAT WAS BEING DISCARDED AT THE END OF EACH BUSINESS DAY, USING HER STATION WAGON AND A COOLER. WHILE THE ORGANIZATION IS A MUCH LARGER ENTITY TODAY, ISLAND HARVEST HAS WORKED HARD TO RETAIN ITS LEGACY WORK, AND THEREFORE, CONSIDERS ITSELF A FOOD BANK USING A FOOD RESCUE MODEL OF MOVING FOOD QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY. THIS MODEL ENABLES THE ORGANIZATION TO TURN ITS INVENTORY QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY. THE MANY VARIETIES OF PRODUCTS THAT THE ORGANIZATION PROCURES AND DELIVERS INCLUDE MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF SPICES, CANNED FOODS, FROZEN MEATS, FRESH PRODUCE, PERSONAL CARE ITEMS, FURNITURE AND MORE.WHEN NOT RESPONDING TO DISASTERS SUCH AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE ORGANIZATION HAS THE CENTERS TO SUPPORT THE DIVERSE POPULATION WITH EQUALLY DIVERSE PROGRAMMING, AS DESCRIBED BELOW.THE ISLAND HARVEST CENTER FOR FOOD COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION:HEALTHY FOOD AND PRODUCT ARE SOURCED FROM BOTH PURCHASED ITEMS AND RECEIVED DONATIONS. THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH MORE THAN 1,000 LOCAL BUSINESSES, COMPANIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GROUPS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO RECEIVES FOOD AND PRODUCT THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONWIDE FEEDING AMERICA NETWORK. THE ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTES THE FOOD AND PRODUCT TO A NETWORK OF MORE THAN 400 REGISTERED COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, SHELTERS, DAY CARES, SENIOR CENTERS, AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH FEEDING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES. AS A RESULT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S DYNAMIC BUSINESS MODEL, APPROXIMATELY 94% OF RESOURCES EXPENDED GOES DIRECTLY TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.THE ISLAND HARVEST CENTER FOR COMBATTING CHILDHOOD HUNGER:HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ON LONG ISLAND ARE LIVING WITH HUNGER EVERY DAY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, EVEN AS FREE OR REDUCED COST SCHOOL LUNCHES ARE AVAILABLE TO OFFSET THE ABSENCE OF FOOD. THE ORGANIZATION'S KIDS WEEKEND BACKPACK FEEDING PROGRAM PROVIDES PACKS OF NUTRITIOUS, SHELF-STABLE FOOD EVERY FRIDAY TO CHILDREN WHO RELY ON SCHOOL LUNCHES AND BREAKFASTS BUT MAY NOT RECEIVE HEALTHY MEALS ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE FOOD PACKETS ARE DISTRIBUTED ANNUALLY AND AFFORD CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN TO SCHOOL EVERY MONDAY NOURISHED AND BETTER EQUIPPED TO LEARN, SOCIALIZE, AND EXCEL. IN AN EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS, THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM PROVIDES CHILDREN WHO ARE AT-RISK OF HUNGER WITH FREE BREAKFAST, LUNCHES, AND SNACKS DURING JULY AND AUGUST, WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE FREE OR REDUCED COST SCHOOL LUNCHES. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION'S YOUTH PRODUCE PROJECT, SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAM, AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CRISIS OF CHILDHOOD HUNGER ACROSS LONG ISLAND.THE ISLAND HARVEST CENTER FOR MOBILE SERVICES:MANY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S SIGNATURE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE MOBILE AND REACH RESIDENTS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE ACROSS NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES. THE SENIOR MOBILE FOOD PANTRY DELIVERS FRESH PRODUCE, PROTEIN, SHELF-STABLE FOOD, AND PRODUCT DIRECTLY TO SENIOR CITIZENS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ON A WEEKLY BASIS. IN ADDITION, ANOTHER HALLMARK MOBILE PROGRAM, OPERATION: HOPE, SUPPORTS VETERANS, ACTIVE-DUTY PERSONNEL, AND THEIR FAMILIES, DELIVERING FOOD, PRODUCT, AND NEEDED REFERRALS AND SUPPORT FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.THE ISLAND HARVEST CENTER FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES:THE ORGANIZATION WAS ON THE FRONT LINES DURING AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER SUPERSTORM SANDY AS A MAIN SOURCE OF FOOD, SUPPLIES, AND SUPPORT IN THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES AND TO FIRST RESPONDERS. THE SEVERITY OF THE HURRICANE AND THE DAMAGE THAT WAS CAUSED EXPOSED THE COMPLEXITY AND VULNERABILITY OF THE NETWORKS OF THE FOOD SUPPLY ON LONG ISLAND. IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT DISASTER, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN ITS READINESS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.THE ISLAND HARVEST CENTER FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICES:OVER 18,394 REGISTERED VOLUNTEERS MAKE UP THE HEART OF THE ORGANIZATION. THEY OFFER THEIR VALUABLE TIME AND SKILLS BY PERFORMING A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES INCLUDING: LENDING PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, SORTING FOOD, HOSTING FOOD DRIVES, PERFORMING OFFICE WORK, AND PARTICIPATING ON THE ORGANIZATION'S SPEAKERS BUREAU-SPEAKING IN ONE COLLECTIVE VOICE ABOUT HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY THROUGHOUT LONG ISLAND. THE ORGANIZATION IS PROUD OF ITS DEDICATED VOLUNTEER CORPS WHO DONATED APPROXIMATELY 41,822 HOURS OF TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE IN THE PAST YEAR.CAPITAL CAMPAIGN:THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED ITS FIRST CAPITAL CAMPAIGN ENTITLED, THE KNOW HUNGER CAMPAIGN. THIS IS AN INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO FUND THE PURCHASE OF A NEW BUILDING (WHICH TOOK PLACE DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021), AND PROGRAMMATIC GROWTH, THUS ALLOWING THE ORGANIZATION TO SERVE MORE LONG ISLANDERS IN NEED. THE PROGRAM REACHED ITS INITIAL GOAL OF $5 MILLION DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2020. A SECOND PHASE OF THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN LAUNCHED TO CONTINUE THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPORTANT WORK.