Suffolk County game: 'Thanks for 'Giving'

Dress warmly for this year's Suffolk County All-Star game, and don't forget the canned cranberries.

Suffolk PAL will host its 10th annual "Thanks for Giving" High School football game Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Stony Brook University. The game, which had its inception in 1974, got a makeover a decade ago, with spectators encouraged to bring canned or non-perishable food that will then be donated to Island Harvest, a non-profit that seeks to feed Long Island's hungry.

"We knew there was a need in our own backyard," said event coordinator Lou Bonnanzio. "There are people who don't know where their next meal is coming from."

The game pits the best seniors from Divisions I and IV against those from Division II and III, with 47 players on each side. The I-IV squad will be led by Patchogue-Medford coach Jim Chiarello, while Centereach's Charlie McMillen will take the reins for the II-III team.

Last year, the event collected over 10,000 pounds of food and has historically attracted 2,500-3,000 spectators, depending on weather.

- LAURA ALBANESE