FDNY Helps Kick off City Harvest Food Drive

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano join members of City Harvest, the New York Daily News, children from I.S. 141 and many others at the kick off for the "Daily News Readers Care to Feed the Hungry" food drive.

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano joined representatives from City Harvest and the New York Daily News, to kick off the 27th annual ‘Daily News Readers Care to Feed the Hungry’ food drive on Nov. 19 at the quarters of Engine 7/Ladder 1 in lower Manhattan.

“The Fire Department is in the business of saving lives, so we’re thrilled to join City Harvest and the New York Daily News to save people from hunger,” Commissioner Scoppetta said.

New Yorkers can bring non-perishable food products to firehouses, police precincts, the Daily News lobby and Modell’s Sporting Goods stores through Jan. 8, 2010.

The food drive is the largest in New York City, collecting more than 350 tons of food last year.

New York City Public Schools are also collecting food as part of the ‘Kids Can Help’ drive. Last year nearly 500 schools participated in the effort.

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta discussed the importance
of the food drive during a press conference at Engine 7/Ladder 7

Attending the press conference were students from I.S. 141 in Queens, the school was one of the top food collectors for the drive last year, gathering more than 14,000 lbs. of food.

“We need your help to make this drive a big success,” said Jilly Stephens, Executive Director of City Harvest.

The FDNY partnered with City Harvest and the Daily News on this effort since its inception. Recently other agencies have joined to support the cause, including the New York City Police Department, New York City Public Schools, Modell’s Sporting Goods stores, Univision, 77 WABC Radio, 1050 ESPN New York and PIX 11 TV.

To learn more about the project or how to donate food, visit cityharvest.org.