When a Lindell Elementary School parent learned that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits — commonly known as food stamps — were affected by the federal government shutdown, she decided to take action.
“One of our parents actually approached me saying, ‘SNAP benefits are ending,’ so we wanted to be able to help our community in need,” Rachel Lonergan, the school social worker, said. “And then all of a sudden, PTA parents and staff members start coming up. Everyone’s aware of what’s going on in the economy right now.”
Megan Packard, whose son Brayden is a student in Travis Van Nostrand’s fifth-grade class, came up with the idea to help families reliant on SNAP benefits and reached out to Lonergan about organizing a food drive.
The initiative aims to support families in the community — particularly those among the roughly 31,450 Nassau County households relying on SNAP benefits.
Brayden and several of his classmates gathered to help load a car full of donated items for the Long Beach Soup Kitchen on Nov. 7.
“The soup kitchen serves so many in the community,” Lonergan said. “We want to be able to meet the needs of our students and families.” She added that all of the donated food goes directly back to feed local families.
Lonergan said the biggest lesson for students is understanding the importance of giving back and recognizing how broader issues, like government decisions, affect everyone.
“It’s not to point out what classmate is needier than another,” she said. “It’s to know that this is an organization that serves our whole community — and we’re a community at Lindell, so we need to support one another.”
The school’s approach to community service goes beyond traditional canned food drives. Lonergan works closely with the Long Beach Soup Kitchen to determine which items are needed most — from canned goods to toiletries and household essentials — so donations directly match the pantry’s shortages.
“We try to give throughout the year based on what their specific needs are,” she said. “It’s just whatever their needs are. We want to help meet those because, again, it’s coming right back to us. It’s our families, our students, our parents.”
The Long Beach Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization established in 1983 to feed hungry people in the Long Beach area.
The kitchen has 40 active volunteers who make everything from scratch, serving about 2,000 to 3,000 meals each month. It operates from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday, on West Pine Street, and offers a to-go meal option for families and individuals who may not feel comfortable dining in. These meals usually include a sandwich, a piece of fruit, and a dessert.
Most of the food the kitchen prepares is donated by Trader Joe’s, which delivers soup, vegetables, fruits, meats, bread, and canned goods each week. The soup kitchen also accepts donations from neighbors and local groups, with additional contributions from Island Harvest and the Atlantic Beach Community Garden helping keep its shelves stocked year-round.
“For us, it’s really about making sure no one in our community goes hungry,” Lonergan said. “When students are full and fed, they’re available to learn — and that’s what it’s all about.”
For more information, visit LongBeachSoupKitchen.com.
