NBC4, Telemundo 47 and Southampton Stop&Shop to make the food drive happen

Long Island Cares, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Inc. and Island Harvest Food Bank are partnering with NBC 4 New York / WNBC, Telemundo 47 / WNJU and Stop & Shop on Saturday, September 9 for Feeding Our Families / Alimentando a Nuestras Familias Food Drive and Volunteer Recruitment. A massive, one-day multi-state effort to help end local hunger. The other food banks across the Tri-State benefiting from this effort include: Food Bank for New York City, Fulfill, Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, Feeding Westchester and Connecticut Foodshare.

The community can visit any of these locations to donate non-perishable food and toiletries to help their neighbors in need. Visit NBCNewYork.com/fooddrive or telemundo47.com/ayuda to access a map with store locations. You can also follow the campaign on social media or post your own photos on September 9 using the hashtags #FOF, #FeedingOurFamilies or #T47Alimentando

Stop & Shop is one of the Tri-State's largest supermarket retailers and the brand has been a strong partner of area food banks and hunger relief organizations for many years. In 2023 alone, Stop & Shop donated over $2.4 million in cash to eight participating food bank partners in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In 2019, Stop & Shop launched the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program, to work directly with schools from Pre-K through college to create and support food pantries within their schools. This program has continued to expand, and Stop & Shop now supports more than 180 school food pantries across its footprint, including more than 100 school pantries in the Tri-State area.

“Hunger and food insecurity continue to be a chronic public health concern affecting nearly 300,000 of our Long Island neighbors,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, President and CEO of Island Harvest Food Bank. “Our longtime partners NBC 4 New York, Telemundo 47 and Stop & Shop are an invaluable resource in our efforts to support children, seniors, veterans and others who are in the incredible position of not having enough food to eat regularly. We are deeply grateful for their unwavering support in the fight against hunger throughout the tri-state region.”

“We are very excited to partner with NBC Universal and Stop & Shop for our annual Feeding our Families food event,” said Paule Pachter, President and CEO of Long Island Cares Food Bank. “I am confident that food banks in the Tri-State area will greatly benefit from the generous support of our communities. NBC Universal and Stop & Shop are committed to ensuring that families struggling with food insecurity receive the nutritious food and support they need to stay healthy and well. Long Island Cares – Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank is grateful for this very meaningful partnership.”

DONATIONS: Non-perishable food and personal hygiene items, including frequently requested items such as baby diapers, are most needed. Food banks also suggest donations of: Canned proteins, soups and vegetables, dried beans, fruit, herbs and peanut butter. Other recommended items on the Feeding Families shopping list include:

• Grains: barley, oats, oatmeal, quinoa and rice.
• Milk: Shelf stable or dried ONLY
• Spices: adobo, cumin, curry, garlic, pepper and salt.
• Condiments: ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard and salad dressings.
• Baby products: diapers, formula, food and hygiene products.
• Hygiene: feminine products including liners, sanitary napkins, tampons, deodorant, soap, shampoo, shaving
• cream and toothpaste.
• Household: aluminum foil, cleaners, garbage bags, paper towels and paper towels.

PLEASE NOTE: No perishable dairy products, glass or produce accepted.

“This is a critical time for our food banks. With the start of school just around the corner and the holidays quickly approaching, non-perishable food donations are needed right now,” said Eric Lerner, President and General Manager of NBC 4 New York. “Our team at WNBC is passionate about fighting hunger and supporting the work of our local food banks. That's why on Saturday September 9th we are hosting Feeding Our Families. a massive one-day food drive that will generate hundreds of thousands of meals for Tri-State families in need.”

“The loss of a job, a long-term illness, or any number of unexpected circumstances can leave us choosing between paying the rent and putting food on the table. It doesn't have to be this way – and that's why our food banks are so important,” said Cristina Schwarz, President and CEO of Telemundo 47. “Food banks are that first line of defense for all of us, and they are ready to help no matter where you live, the language you speak or your immigration status. Our Alimentando a Nuestras Familias campaign will help Tri-State food banks meet growing demand and continue their important work.”

“We are incredibly excited to bring back this beloved community event with our partners NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47, and to rally alongside our customers to help fight hunger,” said Jennifer Barr, Director of External Communications at Stop & Shop and Community Relations. “Ensuring that our neighbors in the communities we serve have access to nutritious food is important to us – and if we all work together, we can help end hunger in the Tri-State area.”

With food banks also in need of new volunteers, NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47 are encouraging viewers to “Give 4” and donate four hours of their time every four months to a local food bank. Volunteers can stock shelves. pack supplies and make local deliveries. They can also conduct non-physical, customized tasks such as accounting, social media, digital marketing and advertising, among others. Food Bank volunteer sign-up sheets will be available the day of the event at each Stop & Shop location.