Island Harvest Food Bank today announced it had been awarded a $250,000 grant from Bank of America in support of the hunger-relief organization’s COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency food response, according to Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank.
The funding will enable Island Harvest Food Bank to purchase food to meet the increased demand created by the pandemic. The food bank recently changed its food sourcing model from relying mostly on surplus food donated by supermarkets, food wholesalers, restaurants, and community-based food drives, to now having to purchase food to distribute to Long Islanders in need of assistance.
From March 9, to April 10 Island Harvest Food Bank has supplied more than one million pounds of food at 320 locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. It expects to distribute an additional million to 1.5 million pounds over the next four to six weeks.
“Bank of America’s sizable and generous contribution will help Island Harvest Food Bank meet the growing demand for emergency food assistance across Long Island,” said Ms. Shubin Dresner. “We’re exceptionally grateful to have Bank of America as a valued partner on the front lines in our efforts to make sure that no one on Long Island goes hungry during this unprecedented public health emergency.”
“Bank of America is partnering with nonprofits that impact the most vulnerable Long Islanders who have been affected by the coronavirus,” said Bank of America Long Island Market President Bob Isaksen. “It was critical to immediately provide funding to Island Harvest so that they could help meet the increased demand for food. As a life-long resident of Long Island, it’s great to see our community come together.”
