AT&T joins the Army to help Long Island families

Communications giant AT&T has donated $30,000 to the Salvation Army’s Long Island operations.

The money will help provide 60,000 meals for 2,000 Long Island families, through Salvation Army hubs in Hempstead, Freeport, Westbury, Riverhead and East Northport.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the Salvation Army has served more than 96,000 individuals across the Greater New York area, with more than 300,000 meals served on Long Island. Since mid-March the Salvation Army has provided more than 962,000 meals through to-go pantries, soup kitchens, and home deliveries, and 8,000 people have received emotional and spiritual support from its pastoral care team.

“As a member of the Long Island community, we consider it a privilege to serve our neighbors during their time of need and uncertainty”, Captain Charles Roberts, the Salvation Army’s Long Island county coordinator, said in an organization statement. “This generous gift from AT&T will support The Salvation Army’s efforts to meet the growing needs of our neighbors.”

Nationally, AT&T has pledged $5.5 million to organizations including the Salvation Army to help feed first responders and healthcare workers during the pandemic. In addition to the Salvation Army, funding is going to  Feeding America and Team Rubicon.

“Ensuring our neighbors have nourishing meals is critical to helping our communities overcome the COVID-19 crisis,” Brandon Ray, AT&T regional director for external and legislative affairs on Long Island, said in the statement. “The Salvation Army has a proven commitment to supporting vulnerable populations, and AT&T is proud to support the organization’s Long Island hubs to ensure that Long Island families have access to free, healthy meals – and one less thing to worry about in this crisis. We hope that other companies will join us in this important effort.”