Help Feed Long Island’s Hungry This Holiday Season

This holiday season Panera Bread will again serve as a designated drop-off site for Island Harvest's annual Turkey & Trimmings Collection Campaign, a lifeline for thousands of Long Islanders who struggle to put food on the table during the holidays.  Each year at this time Panera Bread invites its neighbors to donate frozen turkeys, supermarket turkey coupons and non-perishable food items at any of its 19 Long Island bakery-cafes, including the Hampton Bays location.  Drop offs will be accepted until December 24.

Maryann Lisciandri, general manager of the Hampton Bays Panera Bread, said many people have been stopping by the café to inquire about how to donate frozen and fresh turkeys.  "We normally get it like at the last minute with people donating," she said.  "Last year, I had a man donate 60 turkeys the day before thanksgiving.  He's going to do it again this year.  He was already by asking about it."  She said the donations usually come closer to Thanksgiving.  "Monday and Tuesday of next week.  If we're going to get it, we'll get it then."  Fresh turkeys are also acceptable.  "Fresh ones can be put in the cooler," she said.

Lisciandri said last year's collection campaign was a success.  "We had quite a few, but we had just opened at the end of March, so a lot of people didn't even know we were here, so I think we'll do better this year." 

According to Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest, over 285,000 people, including 110,000 children, go hungry everyday on Long Island, and the holidays are no exception. 

"Donations of frozen turkeys, turkey coupons and non-perishable food items will be welcomed at our bakery-cafes in Nassau and Suffolk now through December 24th, and can be dropped off as early as 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.," said Greg George, vice president of Operations for Panera Bread on Long Island.  "These donations will help Island Harvest provide warm, nutritious meals to local families in need throughout the holidays."

An essential sponsor of Island Harvest, Panera Bread provides over 1,000 pounds of bread, daily, from its area bakery-cafes.  This year Panera Bread contributed $47,000, comprised of guest donations and food to support the efforts of Island Harvest, a partner in its Operation Dough-nation® donation campaign.