Island Harvest reaps $2.1M in grant funding

Island Harvest will receive up to $2.1 million in grant funding from the Town of Hempstead to help ease the nonprofit’s financial stresses related to COVID-19.

The grant was part of the federal CARES Act funding that was provided by the federal government to help offset unbudgeted expenses incurred by organizations throughout the town as a result of their work during the pandemic, according to a town statement.

The money will allow Island Harvest to expand its Harvest to Home delivery program, which delivers meals to senior citizens, veterans and low-income families. 

“On behalf of food-insecure residents throughout the town, we thank Supervisor Don Clavin and the Hempstead Town Board for their invaluable assistance in securing much-needed funds to allow us to provide essential food support to people affected by the pandemic,” Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest Food Bank, said in the statement. “The economic upheaval caused by the pandemic has created an unprecedented demand for food assistance, including among people who have never sought help before, the funding will help us to make sure that no one goes without something as basic as food.”