Getting off his butt to help

When Marty Weinberg, went to Lawrence High School in October to ask if the school could collect coats on behalf of the INN, a soup kitchen based out of Hempstead, high school social worker, Wendy Grand, happened to be by the entrance when Weinberg walked in and after the two spoke, Grand knew she wanted to help.

Grand then reached out to the high school Key Club and honor society so they could begin collecting coats. “Last year, I took about 50 kids to the INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) in Hempstead and they served meals to the homeless,” Grand said. “After doing that, the kids really appreciated what they have.”

Four days before Christmas, Weinberg, a Lawrence resident, went to the high school to collect bags of coats the students had collected. With the student’s help, Weinberg loaded the coats into his car, filling his trunk and backseat with the bags of coats to bring to the INN. “It’s wonderful to give back,” he said. “I’d be sitting around reading the paper or watching a depressing news show so this gives me a purpose.”

After Weinberg retired about a year ago as a garment center worker, he became involved with the INN through his son, Ian, who is on the board of directors. “My son said, ‘Dad, get off your butt and do a little work,’ so I started volunteering for the INN and began bringing them donations,” Weinberg said.

As soon as Weinberg was done loading his car with the coats, he then headed to the INN in Hempstead on Madison Avenue to drop them off. There, dozens of volunteers were busy getting ready for the INN’s toy distribution and Stephan Robinson; the manager of guest services was dressed up as Santa.

“When temperatures drop below freezing, a coat really means a lot for anyone sleeping on the street or those with children,” said Cynthia Sucich, the INN’s director of Communications. “We can’t get enough coats. As quickly as we get them, they’re gone even quicker.”

Weinberg said he visits local restaurants and retailers almost on a daily basis, asking for food, toiletries and other donations. His usual stops include the Bagel Boss in Hewlett as well as Key Food in Woodmere and Trader Joe’s in Hewlett. He also said he gets between 1,500 to 2,000 bagels a week.

Currently, the INN feeds between 400 to 500 people a day, has 19 locations across Long Island and is constantly looking for volunteers and donations. “It’s a machine and it must be fed daily,” Weinberg said about the INN. “Not everybody can give money, but there are so many other things people can give.”

For more information about volunteering or donations, visit the INN’s website at www.the-inn.org.