Giving Back to Community Corporation collects food for holidays

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Numerous people in need can put food on the table for the upcoming holiday season because of the charitable efforts of the Giving Back to Community Corporation.

Emilian Emeagwali, president of the Giving Back to Community Corporation, received a generous donation on Nov. 21 from the employees of Arrow Exterminating Company for their food pantry on Hempstead Turnpike near Elmont Memorial Library, which is still under construction.

Nonetheless, volunteers of the non-profit stood outside of the future food pantry building on Nov. 26 to distribute the plethora of canned goods, non-perishables and other items that were donated by the community, Emeagwali said.

“My heart melts,” she said. “It’s such a good feeling when you help people — one lady when we gave her food, she started crying.”

Emeagwali, who is a physical therapist and owner of State of the Art Physical Therapy Rehabilitation, P.C. in Valley Stream, founded the nonprofit organization in 2009 after a visit to her home country of Nigeria. What she saw was an appalling reality of children in her hometown going to sleep hungry, having no access to clean water, education and other basic needs.

From that point on, she made it her mission to help the underprivileged in Nigeria, as well as in her own backyard in Elmont. The organization focuses on feeding poor individuals, reducing illiteracy rates, improving the quality of schools in low-income communities and awarding scholarships to youths.

Emeagwali said the nonprofit plans to offer up any leftover food donations from the November collection to others who are in desperate need. This month, Giving Back to Community is traveling to Onitsha, Nigeria to distribute rice, beans and other food at Ogboli Primary School.

To donate to Giving Back To Community’s cause or to learn more about their efforts in fighting food insecurity, visit www.givingbacktocommunity.org.