America continues to fight the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as we approach the one-year mark since it initially appeared on our shores. Beyond the tragic global death toll, the ramifications of this virus have included lost jobs, lost income, lost opportunities and uncertainty about making ends meet. There are some bright spots on the horizon and Eldor, an electrical contracting company headquartered in Holtsville, New York, is stepping up once again to help the community it serves.
Following up on a significant contribution of $15,000 to food security operation Long Island Cares, Eldor has doubled down and given another $5,000 to Long Island Cares/The Harry Chapin Food Bank. While Eldor is primarily focused on keeping business moving forward, company officials recognize that no one should go hungry during this crisis, either. “Your donation of $5,000 will provide 6,750 pounds of food and 5,600 meals to Long Islanders in need,” Shawn Hirst, corporate philanthropy and events manager for Long Island Cares, told Eldor. “We are so grateful for your ongoing support.”
Long Island Cares was founded by late Grammy Award-winner and social activist Harry Chapin. It was also the first food bank on Long Island when it opened in 1980. Currently, the organization aids roughly 580 other agencies and works to distribute six million pounds of food each year. In his letter to Eldor, Hirst further characterized the $5,000 donation as “very generous” and says it will go to great use as the food bank works toward its Hunger Free Long Island initiative. According to the Long Island Cares website, one out of every four Long Islanders faces food insecurity and more than 40 percent of Suffolk County residents do not qualify for state and federal assistance programs. “Because they are unable to register for nutrition assistance program like SNAP, more than 63,000 Long Islanders don’t have enough support to put food on the table,” according to Long Island Cares. Having already seen a spike in food insecurity between 2019 and 2020, upcoming statistics showing the leap between 2020 and 2021 will be sobering.
Eldor’s electrical, renewable energy, transportation, communication and transmission-related services help ensure comfort and safety across the Long Island region. Safe and timely services are backed up by quality workmanship that’s carried out by highly-trained staff in the field. It’s this type of hard work that Eldor does, day in and day out, that gives us first-hand knowledge of the hardships our neighbors are going through. The recent $5,000 gift will go toward putting food on plates and in pantries — and that’s an important accomplishment. Long Island Cares offers a wide variety of services that aim to help disaster victims, seniors, veterans, pets and those experiencing hunger. To learn more about Long Island Cares, please visit this page.
