UBS passes out Thanksgiving meals to families in need

UBS Arena and the Islanders Children’s Foundation helped pass out 200 meals to families in need in the Elmont community and surrounding communities on Nov. 20.

Nonprofit agencies Island Harvest, Long Island Cares, Family and Children’s Association, Rock and Wrap it Up and others helped source the families and individuals in need of some help this holiday for the food drive. UBS staff and the Islanders Children’s Foundation helped pass the meals out to those who signed up.

The meals provided gave families a meal that could feed six to eight people which included a turkey, sides and desserts. People came from different areas, such as Queens and the Five Towns, to grab a meal for the holiday.

Gwynn Campbell, board president of the Five Towns Community Center, stopped by to grab two turkey dinners for seniors in her area.

Ann Rina, executive director of community relations for the Islanders, was happy the organizations were able to give back to the communities in the area.

“There is no time that is as important as the Thanksgiving time to give thanks for what we have as an organization and be able to help the community members that are surrounding our arena here,” Rina said.

For the families in the community to have the opportunity to share a meal around the dinner table at Thanksgiving, is what the holiday is really about — togetherness.

“It means a lot for us to be able to give back,” Rina said.

Around 20 volunteers helped pass out and organize the meals for distribution at UBS Arena on Nov. 20. For more information on events and initiatives hosted by the Islanders community relations, visit NHL.com/Islanders/Community.