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Contacts:
For McDonald’s®
Luciana Montuoro
631-827-3516 (cell)
missmacmarketing@aol.com
For Island Harvest
Don Miller
Harrison Leifer DiMarco Public Relations
516-536-2020 or 516-330-1647 (cell)
dmiller@hldpr.com
In the spirit of giving, Long Islanders shine bright in helping their fellow Long Islanders in need this holiday season!
Big Macs®, French Fries and Egg McMuffins® wasn’t the only food at Long Island McDonald’s this holiday season. For the second year now, Long Island McDonald’s restaurants have joined Island Harvest, Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization, in the fight against hunger this holiday season where Long Island McDonald’s accepted non-perishable food items to help those in need enjoy a brighter, more nutritious holiday season. The spirit of giving was evident in the outpour of public support contributing to the holiday food drive. This can also be seen in the numbers-where the total poundage for 2009 collected at McDonald’s was 442 pounds, and the total poundage for 2010 came in at almost 4000 pounds !
“Thanks to the caring and generosity of Long Island McDonald’s and their customers, thousands of Long Island families will have the gift of hope and a warm meal this holiday season, “said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. “It is through the valued partnerships we have with companies like McDonald’s that we are able to help address the critical and year-round issue of hunger in our communities
High unemployment and home foreclosures have forced many Long Islanders to seek emergency food assistance through the organizations served by Island Harvest, several of which have reported sharp increases in the demand for food assistance. A recent federal report found that more than 50 million Americans lack dependable access to adequate food, the highest number since the government began keeping track. On Long Island, nearly 300,000 men, women and children face hunger each day.
“We are so happy to partner in the holiday food drive with Island Harvest again this year!” said Luciana Montuoro, Long Island McDonald’s Marketing and Public Relations Director. “In these trying economic times where many families are faced with challenges in putting food on the table and paying their utility bills, it is our hope that we are able to help make the holidays a little brighter for some of the families on Long Island.
About Island Harvest
Fighting hunger and touching lives, Island Harvest serves as the bridge between those who have surplus food and those who need it, supplying over 570 community- based non profit organizations on Long Island with critical food support to help stem the advancing tide of hunger in our communities. Island Harvest has delivered more than 63 million pounds of food, supplementing nearly 49 million meals, since its inception in 1992. In support of its mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island, the organization is actively involved in education, outreach, advocacy, job training and hunger awareness programs. Island Harvest is a member of Feeding America. For more information about Island Harvest, visit www.islandharvest.org.
About McDonald’s
McDonald’s is the world’s best known brand and is the global leader in food service. Of the 620 McDonald’s Restaurants in the New York Tri-State area, 85 restaurants are located throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Long Island McDonald’s are key supporters and partners of The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island which provides families a home-away from home during their child’s treatment for a serious illness at local hospitals. Since 1986, the House has served more than 14,000 families, with more than three quarters coming from Long Island and the borough of New York. The warm and supportive atmosphere of the House combined with the ability to be at their children’s bedside within minutes, is priceless to families during difficult times.
Visit www.LIMcDonalds.com for a list of our restaurant locations, and for more information on Long Island McDonald’s programs.