Covid-19 Update: Northport Students Deliver Pizzas

Northport High School’s humanitarian group, “Students for 60,000,” last week began what will be an ongoing project of delivering pizza pies to nearly 30 families in East Northport. The team has partnered with Timothy’s Pizzeria in Centerport, Fattusco’s Ristorante Pizzeria in Northport, Nina’s Pizzeria in Northport, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza in East Northport, Mario’s in East Northport, Filetto’s Ristorante in East Northport and Chefs of New York in East Northport.

“COVID-19 continues to place difficult strains on the community, but the generosity and altruism of our neighbors remains a powerful constant,” Students for 60K adviser Darryl St. George said. “These experiences can be an opportunity for the students and community to directly engage in profoundly meaningful service. As difficult as these times are, let moments like this remind us of what is best in humanity.”

Bottle Returns

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding residents that stores are required to accept bottle returns. The redemption of containers is considered an essential service and is expected to continue. While DEC briefly relaxed active enforcement of violations at facilities unable to fulfill redemption operations due to temporary staffing limitations because of Covid-19,facilities across the state are required, as of June 3, to take steps to resume redemption. Contact DEC with any questions at [email protected].

Food Distribution for Seniors

 Island Harvest Food Bank announced Wednesday it is participating in the USDA’s Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) to provide supplemental food support to low-income senior citizens in Nassau and Suffolk counties, according to Randi Shubin Dresner, president & CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank. The federa program aims to improve the health of low-income older adults (at least 60 years of age) by supplementing their diets with USDA foods.

To be eligible for CSFP, adults who are 60 and older must be New York State residents and meet an income requirement of 130% of the federal poverty guideline. U.S. citizenship is not a requirement. Additional information concerning CSFP eligibility is at www.fns.usda.gov/csfp/csfp-fact-sheet.

Island Harvest Food Bank will administer CSFP locally to support 3,000 seniors each month through its partnership of community organizations and directly to participating senior citizen housing sites and senior centers across Long Island. It will also supply food through home delivery services. Island Harvest Food Bank will also be distributing the free meal kits under the program at its Hauppauge Distribution Center, 40 Marcus Boulevard (off Motor Parkway), Hauppauge on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Additional distribution sites will be announced shortly. For more information on Island Harvest Food Bank’s CSFP contact Marilyn Weidener at 631-873-4775 or [email protected].

Island Harvest Food Bank will provide logistical support and administration free of charge to participating organizations and their senior clients. It will help determine eligibility under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and assist seniors with the application process. The food bank will supply pre-packaged meal kits that will include a variety of foods, such as nonfat dry and shelf-stable milk, juice, cereal, rice, pasta, peanut butter, dry beans, canned meat, poultry, or fish, and canned fruits and vegetables. For a list of foods available for CSFP, visit www.fns.usda.gov/csfp/csfp-foodsavailable.

More Testing Sites

New York State, working in partnership with actor Sean Penn and CORE, has established 11 testing sites in communities particularly impacted by COVID-19. CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and strengthening communities affected by or vulnerable to crisis. The state is continuing to focus efforts on reducing the infection rate of COVID-19 in New York City hotspot neighborhoods that have been impacted the most by the virus. There are now more than 800 COVID-19 testing sites across the state. More information on where and how to get tested for COVID-19 is available at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov.

Penn said, “Governor Cuomo’s leadership in this Covid era should be time capsuled. CORE is proud to partner with the State of New York to expand and make more accessible COVID-19 testing to communities of color, low-income, and all those disproportionally impacted by the virus.”

 

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