Long Island Cares opens food distribution center in Valley Stream

Long Island Cares has partnered with Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages to establish a temporary emergency food distribution center in Valley Stream for families and individuals financially impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. The center is located at the Valley Stream Presbyterian Church at 130 S. Central Ave., and will be open every Saturday until New York state lifts its restrictions on businesses and public gatherings.

The site is intended to help provide emergency food boxes, including pet food, to families in need from Valley Stream and surrounding Nassau County communities. No appointments are required. Staff and volunteers will employ physical distancing practices, and visitors are asked to do the same.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is not only a public health emergency but an economic crisis. Together with Long Island Cares, and the Valley Stream Presbyterian Church, we are working to combat food insecurity that is being exacerbated by this unprecedented situation,” Solages said in a statement. “This food distribution will provide hope to so many in our area.  I look forward to collaborating with my neighbors to help our most vulnerable community members.”

“Our staff has been monitoring the increase in telephone calls, emails, and social media messages coming into our helpline and we’ve seen a high volume of requests for assistance from residents in the Valley Stream, Franklin Square, and surrounding communities,” said Paule Pachter, chief executive officer of Long Island Cares. “We reached out to Assemblywoman Solages’ office to offer our assistance and she was able to put us in touch with the Valley Stream Presbyterian Church, who immediately offered their church facilities to serve as a distribution center on Saturdays. We will evaluate the needs to determine if we need to expand our support to additional days.”

“VSPC was extremely excited to receive the call from Assemblywoman Solages’ office.  In fact, in our officers’ meeting we had just discussed different ways we might be of service during this pandemic. We thought about the children and youth that would be out of school and possibly in need of food and then we received this call,” said the Rev. Kymberley Clemons-Jones, pastor of the Presbyterian Church. “We praise God for the opportunity to serve families in our community in this way. We could be in this for the long haul.  People are going to need as much support as possible.  We are grateful that we can help.