How to Make a Difference This Holiday Season? Help Your Hungry Neighbors

BETHPAGE, N.Y. - Oct. 27, 2014 - PRLog -- Long Island’s largest food drive event, the 6th Annual Bethpage Turkey Drive to benefit Island Harvest Food Bank, will take place on Tuesday,  November 18, 2014 from 7 AM to 6 PM at Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s main branch located at 899 South Oyster Bay Road in Bethpage.

Long Islanders are asked to donate frozen turkeys, non-perishable food items or cash donations.  These donations will go directly to Island Harvest which will then help supply Thanksgiving holiday meals to the more than 300,000 hungry Long Islanders through its distribution to 570 food pantries and agencies on Long Island.

“The Bethpage Turkey Drive has become a Thanksgiving tradition on Long Island thanks to the supporting communities who year after year come out to help their neighbors in need,” said Linda Armyn, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Bethpage.  “Each holiday season families look to find ways to help those who are less fortunate.  We encourage parents to get their children involved in making donations as a way to kick off the holiday season.  I want to also thank our partners who work tirelessly each year to help make the drive the success it has become – Cablevision and Connoisseur Media.”

“Bethpage Federal Credit Union has established itself as a strong supporter in the fight against hunger not just during the holidays, but throughout the year,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO, Island Harvest. “Through their financial support, and via the countless volunteer hours logged by its employees, Bethpage Federal Credit Union is making a difference in the lives of Long Islanders struggling with hunger.”

In Suffolk, on Saturday, November 15, 2014 from 11 AM to 1 PM, Suffolk County residents can drop off their donations at Stony Brook University, where volunteers will accept donations in the university parking lot just outside of the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, where the Stony Brook Sea Wolves game against Rhode Island will begin at 1 PM.

For those unable to travel to Bethpage’s main branch on November 18, or to Stony Brook University on November 15, Nassau and Suffolk County residents can visit any of Bethpage’s 29 branch locations to drop off all non-perishable donations.  For a complete list of Bethpage branches, go to www.lovebethpage.com.

“With so many people in need, it is important that we come together as a community to support Island Harvest in its mission to fight hunger on Long Island,” said Lisa Trimarchi, Vice President of Employee Services, Cablevision Systems Corporation.  “Long Island is home to Cablevision and many of our customers, and we are pleased to partner with Bethpage again this year in helping to address this grave issue affecting the communities we serve.”

Since the first Bethpage Turkey Drive was organized in 2009, hundreds of community volunteers have come out to assist in the collection of over 21,500 turkeys and 62,000 pounds of food, which were then provided to Long Island families facing hardship in time for the holidays.  Island Harvest has seen an increase in the requests for food and support services among the 570 community-based agencies it serves.  About 70,000 individuals receive food assistance from the Island Harvest network each week.  Now, following Hurricane Sandy, the numbers are still unprecedented.

Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization, Island Harvest provides food and non-food items for people who are hungry and in need, giving them a voice to help them transition from uncertainty to stability.

Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative, existing solely to serve its members and has experienced rapid growth in recent years to become a strong alternative to banks.  Bethpage was approved for the largest federal community charter in the U.S. in 2003 and now is New York State’s largest credit union and Long Island’s primary community financial institution with 245,000 members, 29 branches and 60 shared service center locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. As a financial cooperative, Bethpage offers the best-in-market rates, low fees and world-class service, and a full menu of personal and commercial financial services.

Bethpage maintains branch locations in Bay Shore, Bay Shore King Kullen, Bethpage, Brookville, Central Islip, Commack King Kullen, East Meadow NuHealth, Elmont, Farmingdale, Freeport, Glen Cove, Hempstead, Huntington, Levittown King Kullen, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Massapequa, Melville, Mineola, North Babylon, Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Seaford, Smithtown, Roosevelt, Valley Stream King Kullen, West Babylon and Westbury with over 425 surcharge-free ATMs in King Kullen, CVS Pharmacy and Costco locations throughout Long Island.  For more information, call 1-800-628-7070 or visit www.bethpagefcu.com.