Purolator International, provider of cross-border logistics, is proud to announce its donation of two trucks to Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank, one of the region’s most comprehensive hunger assistance organizations, serving 316,000 individuals and families in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York.
The two trucks were part of the fleet owned by Purolator Inc., the parent company of Purolator International. The Long Island Cares trucks donated by Purolator are both 14-feet and can each accommodate approximately 2,500 meals. One van is being used as part of Long Island Cares Store Donation Program which is supported by more than 50 Long Island retailers. Long Island Cares is seeking an additional grant to convert the second truck into a food truck with a workable kitchen, to prepare meals for food insecure children in their communities during the year. This would be the first of its kind food truck used to deliver free meals on Long Island.
“Purolator International has been a long-time supporter of Long Island Cares, with employees dedicating their time to various food drives and warehouse sorting and repacking through the years. We’re delighted and honored to have the ability to further expand our relationship by providing these trucks,” said John Costanzo, President, Purolator International. “This donation offered us an opportunity to use our resources in a way that would help the most.”
“It’s often overlooked, but the transportation of food is critical to the success of Long Island Cares. Purolator’s donation of two trucks is significant. It will allow us to increase our food pickups, and ultimately provide more food to those in need,” said Paule Pachter, CEO of Long Island Cares. “We are so grateful to Purolator for their continued commitment to Long Island Cares.”
Purolator International also hosted a two-week food drive at its corporate headquarters, Jericho Plaza, Jericho, NY – inviting 30 Long Island businesses, comprised of approximately 1,200 employees, to donate food in an effort to fill the trucks with non-perishable food before they were delivered to Long Island Cares. The food drive concluded on Thursday, April 30th with Costanzo and Pachter on hand to thank all that participated. 1,968 pounds of food were collected, or the equivalent of 1,640 meals.
“We thank building management company Onyx Equities and all of the businesses and individuals that contributed to the food drive. It is humbling to see what can be accomplished by coming together to contribute what we can to help our neighbors in need right here on Long Island,” added Costanzo.
Combatting hunger is a key initiative for Purolator International as part of its Purolator Gives Back program and aligns with the company’s core values as demonstrated by the Purolator Inc. program, Purolator TackleHunger®, which has delivered the equivalent of more than 7.5 million pounds of food to food banks across Canada, through a strategic partnership with the Canadian Football League (CFL). Purolator International’s Purolator Gives Back also supports United Way, American Cancer Society, Operation LIVE UNITED, Lee Denim Day, and Habitat for Humanity.
