Thursday, April 17, 2025
The Community Presbyterian Church of Malverne and the Long Island Council of Churches are gearing up for their 14th annual Move the Food Day, scheduled for March 29, at 10:15 a.m., at the LICC Food Pantry in Freeport, now at 353 W Sunrise Highway.
The event is the culmination of months of food collection efforts, collectively known as the People’s Food Drive, which have brought together volunteers from churches and local businesses as well as individuals to help combat food insecurity on Long Island.
Robert Hallam, a sales manager at Nassau Door and Window who has spearheaded the drive with his wife, Mary, described the event as more than just a food-delivery effort — as a celebration of community and generosity. Move the Food Day is when all the food collected over the past several months is transported from the Hallams’ home in Lynbrook to the pantry.
Hallam joked that it’s a day his wife looks forward to, because it means their house is no longer filled with boxes of donations.
Volunteers form an assembly line to move boxes of food from the living and dining rooms to a truck provided by his employer, Nassau Door & Window, before driving them to Freeport. When the truck arrives at the LICC pantry, another assembly line unloads the food. In past years, as many as 200 people have taken part.
“We try to form, like, a light line and a heavy line, so that people that don’t have such strength, or the younger people, can still be involved,” Hallam explained.
The People’s Food Drive began over 20 years ago, as a small initiative in the Community Presbyterian Church’s Sunday School program. Hallam recalled how his deep faith played a crucial role in expanding the drive beyond the church. He described experiencing restless nights whenever he hesitated to take the mission further, contrasting that with a sense of energy and inspiration whenever he thought about expanding it.
“I have no question that God called me to take our little church food drive out of the doors of the church and into the surrounding communities,” he said. Now, volunteers come from across Long Island, including other churches, such as the Garden City Presbyterian Church and the Wantagh Presbyterian Church, as well as businesses. There’s a collection box in front of the Hallams’ home.
The relocation of the LICC Food Pantry from 230 Hanse Ave. to the new Sunrise Highway location last November has brought some challenges. In the past, volunteers have been able to pass food indoors by backing up the moving truck into the facility, but this year the human assembly line will extend down the sidewalk of Sunrise Highway.
“We’re praying for good weather,” Hallam said.
The Rev. Janice Moore, pastor of the Community Presbyterian Church and the chair of the Long Island Council of Churches, emphasized the growing demand for food assistance. “Food insecurity is our biggest priority,” Moore said. “And hopefully, in the next year or so, we’ll have Move the Food drives like this all across Long Island.”
Moore acknowledged that the council has had to adapt to funding and space constraints, with the new space being smaller than the old one. “We learned some things because of it,” she said. “That we can shift more toward partnerships. So we partner now with many different churches. So we’re not just physically in one location, you know. It forced us to learn about the power of partnerships.”
Despite the challenges, Hallam remains dedicated to the mission. This year’s drive has collected roughly 500 boxes of food, each holding about 20 items, as well as more than $3,000 in monetary donations, which will be used to purchase more food.
LICC is a 501(c)(3) charity organization, Hallam noted. “People can make tax-deductible donations, and some people choose to do it that way,” he said. “We have an understanding with the food pantry that any money given during the People’s Food Drive, that money goes solely into the purchase of food, not into overhead costs.”
“I should mention what a great support Jeremy’s Ale House is,” Hallam added in a text message. “They are on the Nautical Mile and are a great support to our drive. They have a collection box at the pub, and most of the regular patrons join in to help move the food.”
As food insecurity remains a critical issue on Long Island, Move the Food Day serves as a crucial community effort. “In the past, Move the Food Day has provided, like, two months’ worth of food for the council, for the Freeport pantry.” Moore said. “But even more important, it creates awareness. The people who come to help for a day and then start to come up with ideas about what they can do individually. The awareness isn’t just for the Council, (it’s about) how individuals can contribute to providing support for their neighbors in small and personal ways.”
The Community Presbyterian Church and the Long Island Council of Churches invite all who are interested in making a difference to participate in Move the Food Day on March 29. For more information, contact Hallam at robhallam54@gmail.com, or (516) 315-3036.
