Island Harvest to hold hunger conference

Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization, Island Harvest, is hosting a conference on Tuesday, May 17, in an effort to find ways to end hunger in Long Island communities.

The conference, “Combating Hunger on Long Island: Addressing the Obstacles,” will be held at Hofstra University’s Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center in Hempstead from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Kevin Concannon, U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, will be the keynote speaker.

A study conducted last year by Feeding America, a national hunger relief organization, found an estimated 285,000 Long Islanders face the risk of going hungry every day.

“No community is immune, nor is any socio-economic group, to the effects of hunger here on Long Island and across the country,” Randi Shubin Dresner, president and chief executive of Island Harvest, said in a statement.

Seating for the conference is limited and registration is required at Island Harvest's website or by calling Nicole Vitale at 516-294-8528, ext. 104.