Helping out this holiday

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Islip Rotary are rounding out 2020 with their fifth monthly food drive on Dec. 5.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., community members can drop off their nonperishable food items and more at 754 Montauk Highway in Islip.

Volunteers will set up tables in front of the church doors on St. Mark’s Lane. Donators can drive up, simply pop their trunks, and volunteers will do the heavy lifting.

The December drive comes one month after one of the most successful food drives of the season. In November, the groups filled 175 boxes to send to God’s Provisions and it’s estimated that 25,000 items were collected.

The nonsectarian food drives, which began in July, send all food donations to Long Island Cares affiliate God’s Provisions, based in Patchogue. The organization distributes pre-boxed meals and grocery bags to over 24 locations, including church pantries, shelters and senior communities.

While food insecurity is a serious topic, organizer Irene Ross said the December drive will be “light and joyful” with Christmas lights, decorations, music, and a visit from Santa Claus.

St. Mark’s rector and longtime Rotarian, the Very Reverend Richard Simpson, said during the pandemic, food insecurity has increased. The organizations want to ensure that no one goes to bed hungry, he said.