Jefferson’s Ferry residents donate food by the busload

A unique food drive held by a senior living community over the first two weeks in March helped Island Harvest Food Bank to collect much-needed non-perishable food items.

The “Stuff a Bus” food drive held by Jefferson’s Ferry Life Plan Community in South Setauket last month yielded 527 pounds of food for Island Harvest, the Hauppauge-based hunger-relief organization that delivers food to a network of 570 local pantries, soup kitchens, and other providers of food for those in need.

Jefferson’s Ferry residents shopped for items to donate from a “wish list” provided by Island Harvest. The senior community furnished a bus to accept the donations, which delivered them to the nonprofit’s food bank for distribution.

Robert Caulfield, Jefferson’s Ferry president and CEO, praised the effort of everyone involved. “The enthusiasm of our residents and staff is matched by their generosity,” he said. “Our residents are invested in the well-being of the Long Island community at large and eager to give back.”