Girl Scouts Feeding New York: Local Girl Scouts Making a Difference for Food Insecurity

Together with sister Girl Scouts from across the nation, local Girl Scouts hope to bring meals to those in need. Through a unified service project, Girl Scouts from Nassau and Suffolk Counties will help the increasing number of families on Long Island that are experiencing economic hardship and food insecurity by partnering for a contactless drive-thru food collection with Island Harvest on Saturday, December 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Food insecurity is the lack of access to affordable and nutritious food. Although food insecurity was an issue before the COVID-19 pandemic, the current crisis has escalated the need. Here on Long Island, there has been a 47 percent increase in demand for food assistance since the pandemic began.

“Food insecurity is a very real issue and there has been a growing need to help those who are experiencing it, starting with communities right here on Long Island,” said Rande Bynum, chief executive officer, Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “As a council, we have discussed what food insecurity means, and girls are interested in finding ways to make a difference and help their neighbors and peers. With this event, Girl Scouts across the entire state are coming together on the same date to hold food collections and spread awareness about food insecurity. Together, we hope we can help make a difference.”

Items to be collected will include toiletries, non-perishable goods, household items, pet supplies, and baby essentials. A full list of suggested donations along with drop-off locations can be found on the Girl Scouts of Nassau County website.    

Throughout the current health crisis, Girl Scouts of the USA has recognized that its members want to help those suffering, so they initiated a series of National Service Projects throughout 2020.  

The Girl Scouts Feeding New York initiative is just one example of Girl Scout’s National Service Projects. Historically, Girl Scouts have always stepped up in times of need, including selling Treasury Bonds during WWI and the Spanish flu pandemic, to planting victory gardens and training in first aid during WWII. The current COVID-19 crisis is no different. All across the country and our world, Girl Scouts have leapt to the aid of others by engaging in wonderful acts of service and kindness

To learn more, visit www.gsnc.org/.


We’re the Girl Scouts of Nassau County: We’re 21,000 strong – more than 16,000 girls and 5,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ from Nassau County to change the world. Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, she organized the very first Girl Scout Troop, and every year since, we’ve honored her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. And with programs in Nassau County, across Long Island and throughout the United States and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success.