The Chamber of Commerce of the Willistons and the Mineola Chamber of Commerce held a food drive on Saturday to benefit community members in need due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We know that many people in our area have lost jobs,” said Eileen Devaney, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Willistons. “Our businesses are suffering and we thought we could do this to help the food pantries in our area as well as the Salvation Army, who makes food deliveries to The Inn in Hempstead. We were trying to find ways to assist those who are struggling at this time.”
Residents were encouraged to drop off grocery items at the parking lot of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Williston Park between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Food items will be distributed to the Salvation Army and Saint Aidan’s Parish Social Ministry Pantry. The food pantries accept canned food and dry goods, as well as items for babies such as diapers, wipes and baby food.
In addition to food, residents donated a total of $1,400.
“Those donations will help out those in need for the weeks ahead and are a further demonstration of the involvement of our business community in the life of our Willistons community, particularly when times are hard,” said Nancy Zolezzi, treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce of the Willistons, in an email.
Throughout the pandemic, the chamber has been paying restaurants and other businesses to provide meals to healthcare workers and front-line workers.
“We are a strong business community, supported by unified neighbors in the Willistons,” said Zolezzi.
“Life will be different but, working together as we always have, good times will return.”
