SNAP Assistance and The Operation HOPE Program with Island Harvest
No one should have to choose between food and paying bills, especially now. Island Harvest: A Food Bank for Long Island is offering assistance to anyone who is struggling, especially those who have found their financial situation changed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The organization can assist with procuring benefits, like SNAP, or free meals delivered to vets through the Operation Hope program.
Representatives from the organization, in partnership with AARPNY, will help guide you toward vital services that can get you through a tough time, whether it’s to walk you through an application or provide food for you and your family.
“Right now a lot of people who thought they weren’t eligible have found themselves unemployed or underemployed,” said Bernard Macias, Associate State Director for Long Island. “Reach out, it’s a free consultation and you might get the help you need. A lot of people might not realize they qualify.”
Taisha Freeman, SNAP and Community Resource Supervisor says: "Island Harvest supports 316,000 Long Islanders in need who turn to our network of approximately 500 soup kitchens, food pantries, and other emergency programs such as SNAP each year,” said Taisha Freeman, SNAP and Community Resource Supervisor. "Together, we provide services to adults, children, seniors, families, veterans, and people with disabilities. Our services reach approximately 1 in 10 Long Islanders each year. In these last seven weeks, the number of people we have helped have been extraordinary for our service area due to the pandemic."
If you are wondering if you now qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Island Harvest food bank is providing free referral, consultation and assistance to Long Islanders. You can talk to a representative who will help you fill out applications over the phone for free, and refer you to other services that can assist you during this difficult time.
Eligibility for SNAP is based on income and Island Harvest SNAP Coordinators, who speak English, Spanish or Creole, can help figure out if you qualify. Once completed, all SNAP applications are submitted to local social service offices and a representative will call each client for a phone interview. This process can take up to 30 days from start to finish.
During each free initial referral screening, Island Harvest representatives will be able to provide referrals to local food pantries and other community resources for housing, furniture, employment or education that are available across Long Island.
The Operation HOPE program was designed to give back to veterans. Active or inactive veterans, veterans’ spouses, or parents of a deployed veteran are eligible. The food bank will deliver a month worth of food for three consecutive months.
Email or call Freeman at taisha@islandharvest.org or 631-873-4775, extension 207, for more information: www.islandharvest.org
*Please note this is not an AARP program. Any information provided to the host organization shall be governed by its privacy policy.
