Ending hunger and reducing food waste on Long Island is no small feat, and yet the folks over at Island Harvest dedicate themselves to this mission whole-heartedly. The effort to support this cause is manyfold, and this year the Vandis team was able to contribute to two key phases of the organization’s operational chain.
Each of the days of service offered a unique glimpse into the incredible work done by employees and volunteers at Island Harvest and allowed our team to diversify our understanding of how we can better serve our community as individuals, and as an organization.
In Melville, NY at the Island Harvest food bank, team members packaged pantry items for distribution to senior members of our community. Working alongside Island Harvest volunteers and staff, the Vandis team packaged 896 individual boxes to feed the community, providing over 20,500 meals to long islanders.
The following week our team was invited to spend the day at the Island Harvest farm in Brentwood, NY. Here the team harvested produce and prepped hundreds of garlic bulbs for the drying process.
The produce and herbs harvested here are distributed to food kitchens across Long Island, helping make sure the community is fed with locally-grown, organic fresh produce. Last year the farm succeeded in reaching their goal of supplying 20,000 lbs. of fresh food to our neighbors, and this year they have set an ambitious goal of 25,000 lbs. The farm operation runs with just one full-time employee, making volunteer work crucial to succeeding in their mission. Vandis is proud to be a returning volunteer group, and to support Island Harvest in all the brilliant work they do.
An estimated 48 million Americans face food insecurity on a daily basis. Around a quarter of a million Long Islanders are a part of this bigger picture. Vandis is based in Nassau county, giving back to the community is a vital part of our corporate social responsibility.
We have a deep admiration for the work Island Harvest does as an organization and are grateful to be able to lend a hand in making an impact. We hope to not only make an impact in our community, but to inspire others to do the same.