jwallace
December 30th, 2005, 02:15 PM
The Long Island Food Bank
Long Island singer Harry Chapin was probably best known for his hit sing “Cat’s In The Cradle,” which was a number one hit off the 1974 album “Verities and Balderdash.” Chapin founded Long Island Cares--The Long Island Food Bank in 1980, based on his “help your fellow man” philosophies and volunteer spirit. Unfortunately, Chapin was killed in a car crash in 1981 and never got to see what his vision for the food bank would become.
In the beginning, Chapin thought in a more global fashion, focusing on issues of the day such as the crisis in Bangladesh. He and a partner, Bill Ayers, founded an organization called World Hunger Year. Thanks to efforts like these, Chapin was able to help persuade the passage of something called the Good Samaritan Law, which was designed to inspire American corporations to donate their leftover food. Chapin was also instrumental in a lobby effort to create a congressional study on hunger in America. Eventually Harry Chapin set his sights closer to home, and founded Long Island Cares—The Long Island Food Bank.
2005 was the twenty-fifth anniversary of this Long Island institution, which truly pioneered anti-hunger work in the local area. According to a memorial of Chapin published in the publication NewsDay, there were no other operations working in either Nassau or Suffolk counties until Harry Chapin came along. Today, the issue of hunger is addressed more aggressively than ever, thanks in part to the efforts of the Long Island Food Bank.
In the beginning, the organization distributed food to senior citizens and church groups, but that outreach grew into a distribution of literally millions of meals to more than five hundred agencies on Long Island.
One of the major efforts of the LI Food Bank is the sponsorship of programs that encourage self-sufficiency. Long Island Cares sponsors a program called New Paths To Achievement, which offers help for economically disadvantaged women. The program includes assertiveness training, self-confidence and parenting programs and job skills training. Women are put in touch with the program through their participation in halfway houses, homeless shelters, vocational and rehab centers.
Today, Chapin’s wife Sandy chairs Long Island Cares; the quest to help disadvantaged people goes on well into the new century with more influence than ever. The agency manages millions of pounds of food, both donated to and purchased by the organization. Long Island Cares serves more than six hundred food pantries, group homes, treatment centers and shelters.
Harry Chapin was not alone in caring for disadvantaged people; many famous music industry people have taken up the cause. U2 singer Bono recently lobbied for a “Jubilee” that would forgive the debts of economically disadvantaged nations, and the late George Harrison was a very outspoken voice, holding charity concerts for Bangladesh and other causes. While Chapin isn’t the only musical name connected with philanthropy, his relentless drive to help others makes him a unique part of Americana. His musical work speaks for itself, but the humanitarian legacy he left behind makes Chapin a far more important name in the grand scheme of things.
Long Island singer Harry Chapin was probably best known for his hit sing “Cat’s In The Cradle,” which was a number one hit off the 1974 album “Verities and Balderdash.” Chapin founded Long Island Cares--The Long Island Food Bank in 1980, based on his “help your fellow man” philosophies and volunteer spirit. Unfortunately, Chapin was killed in a car crash in 1981 and never got to see what his vision for the food bank would become.
In the beginning, Chapin thought in a more global fashion, focusing on issues of the day such as the crisis in Bangladesh. He and a partner, Bill Ayers, founded an organization called World Hunger Year. Thanks to efforts like these, Chapin was able to help persuade the passage of something called the Good Samaritan Law, which was designed to inspire American corporations to donate their leftover food. Chapin was also instrumental in a lobby effort to create a congressional study on hunger in America. Eventually Harry Chapin set his sights closer to home, and founded Long Island Cares—The Long Island Food Bank.
2005 was the twenty-fifth anniversary of this Long Island institution, which truly pioneered anti-hunger work in the local area. According to a memorial of Chapin published in the publication NewsDay, there were no other operations working in either Nassau or Suffolk counties until Harry Chapin came along. Today, the issue of hunger is addressed more aggressively than ever, thanks in part to the efforts of the Long Island Food Bank.
In the beginning, the organization distributed food to senior citizens and church groups, but that outreach grew into a distribution of literally millions of meals to more than five hundred agencies on Long Island.
One of the major efforts of the LI Food Bank is the sponsorship of programs that encourage self-sufficiency. Long Island Cares sponsors a program called New Paths To Achievement, which offers help for economically disadvantaged women. The program includes assertiveness training, self-confidence and parenting programs and job skills training. Women are put in touch with the program through their participation in halfway houses, homeless shelters, vocational and rehab centers.
Today, Chapin’s wife Sandy chairs Long Island Cares; the quest to help disadvantaged people goes on well into the new century with more influence than ever. The agency manages millions of pounds of food, both donated to and purchased by the organization. Long Island Cares serves more than six hundred food pantries, group homes, treatment centers and shelters.
Harry Chapin was not alone in caring for disadvantaged people; many famous music industry people have taken up the cause. U2 singer Bono recently lobbied for a “Jubilee” that would forgive the debts of economically disadvantaged nations, and the late George Harrison was a very outspoken voice, holding charity concerts for Bangladesh and other causes. While Chapin isn’t the only musical name connected with philanthropy, his relentless drive to help others makes him a unique part of Americana. His musical work speaks for itself, but the humanitarian legacy he left behind makes Chapin a far more important name in the grand scheme of things.