MAY 12, 2006, FARMINGVILLE, NY –Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Brian X. Foley is happy to announce that the town has found a building for the use of the U.S. Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers, allowing those organizations to proceed with the annual food drive that benefits Island Harvest and other local hunger relief organizations.

The drive is expected to collect more than 1.5 million pounds of food for Long Islanders in need.  The food drive had a difficult time finding warehouse space to be donated for food storage, but Brookhaven Town Economic Development officials were able to find a site, at 91-1 Colin Drive in Holbrook, and arrange for the donation of its use.

“This kind of cooperation is exactly what I have been trying to foster in the Town of Brookhaven,” said Supervisor Foley. “Through this joint effort of non-profit organizations, businessmen and the Town of Brookhaven, we managed to salvage a project that provides enormous help to our needy neighbors. The letter carriers do a great job collecting this food and Island Harvest and others do a great job distributing it to the hungry.

“But this essential food drive faced a problem because no one could find a business owner willing to donate the use of a 30,0000 square foot plus warehouse to store the food for two weeks. That’s when the town stepped up to the plate.

“Economic Development Zone Coordinator Anthony Figliola worked with Meredith Kurz to find the generous businessmen, Todd Mendik and Charles Lefkowitz, who have made this building available for two weeks so the collected food can be stored. That is great news for Long Island.”

Ms. Kurz wrote to Supervisor Foley to thank Mr. Figliola for his efforts. “Considering I received an ‘SOS’ call on a Tuesday and Mr. Figliola solved the problem by Friday, right under the Island Harvest wire, it’s an impressive feat and a reflection of the positive turn of events in the Town of Brookhaven,” she said in her letter. “You’ve gathered a great team together here and as a taxpayer, real estate agent trying to ‘sell’ Brookhaven and a citizen, I couldn’t be more pleased. Mr. Figliola is another example of a great public servant pointing towards your vision of the Town of Brookhaven.”

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Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6955 • Fax (631) 451-6677
www.Brookhaven.org