Naming and Tribute opportunities are available for any of the above-listed programs, and we have Planned Giving opportunities that will sustain these programs in perpetuity. Please call Sara C. Weiss, Director of Development, at 516-565-0290, ext. 207, for more information, to arrange a donation and/or Planned Gift to the Long Island Council of Churches.

LONG ISLAND COUNCIL OF CHURCHES STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO DONORS: The Long Island Council of Churches is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization (Tax I.D. 11-1635087) governed by a Board of Governors comprised of local clergy and lay denominational leaders. Our Board of Governors and Finance Committee advise the Executive Director and Director of Finance and provide financial oversight. An annual Audited Financial Statement is prepared by an independent outside auditor in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. If you would like a copy of our most recent Audited Financial Statement, please call Sara Weiss, Director of Development, at 516-565-0290, ext. 207 or e-mail your request to saraweiss@optonline.net and she will be happy to send you a copy.

SPRING APPEAL 2011: Dear Friends,
We're feeding more and more hungry people with fewer and fewer resources. The federal government seems bent on helping the rich to prosper while it slashes funding for the poor. Diminished federal funding means reduced funding for the pipeline that sustains the safety net on State, County and local levels.

For over 30 years the Long Island Council of Churches has had a contract with Nassau County's Department of Social Services. Thirty years ago we were feeding about 200 a month. By 2010 we were feeding almost 1,200/month. Our contract with the County has not gone up a cent. It remains the same as it was when we opened the emergency food center in the 1970's. This year we're feeding more than 1,200 a month, but the County cut our contract with the Department of Social Services by $27,000 for 2011. Last year's contract covered about 40% of our costs to operate the program. This year they want us to feed over 1,200 people a month with 21% less!

In Suffolk where our Riverhead facility regularly feeds 700 people a month - and sometimes more than 1,000 - the Department of Social Services pays us a mere $5,000 a year to assist the people they send to us for help. As I noted my Newsday April 11th article, "How can LI say no to the hungry?" I'm not pleading for the State to subsidize the Church. Currently, we, the Church, are subsidizing the State. That's morally and financially intolerable, and it's unworkable.

I can't forget the young mother with a seven-month baby who walked five miles from her residence in Hempstead to our Freeport Emergency Food Center for infant formula. She couldn't afford to buy the infant formula and she couldn't afford the bus fare.

We are stretched almost to the breaking point. We cannot reduce expenses further and still sustain our ministry to serve Long Islanders in need. We're trying to raise the funds we need to fill the gap between the needs and the diminished resources we have to meet those needs.

We know our readers are generous and care about their hungry and destitute neighbors. Please help us fill the empty shelves by giving as much as you can so we won't have to turn our hungry neighbors away.

Thank you and May God bless you.

Rev. Tom Goodhue Executive Director

Rev. Mark Bigelow LICC Board Chair

1644 Denton Green, Hempstead, NY 11550
407 Osborne Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901