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Vol. 88 No. 50
DECEMBER 7 - 13, 2023
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Partnership takes a stand against childhood hunger By MoHAMED FARGHAlY mfarghaly@liherald.com
Mohamed Farghaly/Herald
The collaborative efforts between Superintendent Kishore Kuncham of Freeport Public Schools and Randi Shubin Dresner, President and CEO of Island Harvest Food Bank are aimed at addressing childhood hunger and food insecurity.
In a powerful collaboration to combat food insecurity and childhood hunger, Island Harvest Food Bank, Freeport Public Schools, and No Kid Hungry New York joined forces to recognize the impact of their initiatives. The culmination of their efforts was celebrated at a ceremony held at the Archer Street School in Freeport on Nov. 30. Representatives and officials from Island Harvest, No Kid Hungry, and Freeport Public Schools attended the event, acknowledging the success of their joint endeavor and the significant strides made toward addressing local childhood hunger. Island Harvest Food Bank distributed fresh fruits and vegetables in July to 1,330 Freeport families at various school locations. The initiative received support from No Kid Hungry New York to enhance awareness of SNAP benefits and facilitate participation in the Freeport school community. COnTInuED On PagE 9
Green Army’s local crusade to clean up Freeport By MoHAMED FARGHAlY mfarghaly@liherald.com
A determined group of volunteers, wearing gloves and armed with garbage bags, converged on Freeport’s Brookside Preserve on Nov. 25 to improve t h e p a rk ’s e nv i ro n m e n t a l health, one piece of litter at a time. The Green Army, a community club, orchestrated the event, which drew an estimated dozen volunteers, including Nassau County Le gislator Debra Mulé and the Friends of Brookside Reserve. Mark Meyer, the founder of the Green Army, spearheaded
the cleanup. The club, which is committed to promoting green initiatives, has a history of organizing similar efforts not only in Freeport, but also in East Rockaway and Lindenhurst. The Brookside Preserve gathering was the Army’s third annual collaboration with Mulé. “An event like this offers a close connection to the earth and soil,” Meyer said, “and it serves as a community gathering, fostering interactions among neighbors.” Meyer sees the club as a force championing eco-friendly causes and combating plastic pollution. His goals include the
creation of cleaner parks and a reduction in plastic litter on the streets. Beyond his volunteer work, Meyer runs an e-commerce platform selling secondhand goods, driven by his focus on the excessive amount of single-use plastics in circulation. “I dream of a community organization that’s a force for good, supporting green initiatives and preserving nature’s forests,” Meyer said. “It’s been a pleasure working with people in the parks department and village officials. I believe we can preserve parks more effectively, and hope to see fewer plastics on the streets.”
The Green Army hopes to expand its influence across Long Island. Looking ahead, M e ye r s a i d h e h o p e d fo r increased funding and collaboration with other organizations, including the Boy Scouts and political figures, and more community engagement, at events like holiday parades. Recognizing the limitations of
volunteer efforts in addressing the proliferation of plastic waste, he envisions leveraging partnerships to make more of an impact. Once a symbol of convenience, single-use plastic has evolved into an environmental adversary. Its non-biodegradable nature ensures that it lasts COnTInuED On PagE 10