A day of hope for Long Island’s needy

Convoy of Hope, an international hunger relief organization, will be coming to Long Island for the first time this weekend to help local needy families.

Dozens of churches, businesses and organizations have come together to host a massive event at Mitchel Field in Uniondale on Saturday, in which about 70,000 pounds of food will be given out. Each family will receive $300 worth of groceries to take home.

Bringing Convoy of Hope to Long Island was the vision of the Rev. Steve Milazzo, pastor of Bethlehem Assembly of God in Valley Stream. He got other churches involved and the idea quickly began to transform into a reality. “We’re looking to start a movement,” he said, “where churches start working together to meet the needs on Long Island. The poverty rate is staggering. I never knew it was so big on Long Island.”

Free food won’t be the only support available to needy families. There will be a job fair, health screenings, haircuts, free sneakers and family portraits. On top of that, kids can enjoy carnival games and rides, and guests of all ages can listen to the free musical entertainment.

“We need the size of three football fields,” Milazzo said about why Mitchel Field was chosen as the location. He said that county officials were very generous in allowing Convoy of Hope to use the spot at deeply discounted price.

Gabrielle Rizzutto, the project coordinator for the Long Island event, said planning began more than a year ago. A team of 25 people, including leaders from the more than 50 churches involved, have been working hard, she said, to ensure that it will be a success.

Convoy of Hope, based in Missouri, is currently on a 50-state tour with Long Island being one of its stops. The organization not only provides hunger relief, but also provides access to clean drinking water.

A tractor-trailer full of food, provided by Convoy of Hope, will be at Mitchel Field on Saturday. Additionally, Long Island Cares is donating food, sponsored by Mid-Island Collision.