Local Body Shop Owner Helps Fight Hunger in Long Island

Bob Jesberger, owner of Mid Island Collision Center, donated $5,000 to Long Island Cares/ The Harry Chapin Food Bank — one of the most comprehensive hunger action organizations in New York — on Wednesday morning.

Long Island Cares is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, community-based, regionally- responsive, and working in partnership with other charitable agencies to fight hunger in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The Harry Chapin Food Bank is Long Island’s first food bank.

Long Island Cares recently initiated “Military Appreciation Tuesday.” This program provides special hours for Long Island military veterans, many of which are homeless or unemployed to receive nutritious food and services. Long Island Cares executive director Paule Pachter said the group initiated the program after seeing an inordinate amount of veterans at their pantries and veterans events.

“We’ve seen an increase in the number of veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, as well as Vietnam veterans, who aren’t eating and don’t have basic necessities,” Pachter said. “We’re making food and personal items available to these veterans who are in great need. Bob Jesberger has made a significant difference in the lives of so many on Long Island.

Jesberger has long been a strong supporter for worthy causes. He has provided assistance in various ways to the wounded and disabled men and women of the military, and has personally helped to provide food and means of warmth to needy people throughout Long Island with major donations to food pantries and other charitable organizations. Jesberger has also provided thousands of families across Long Island with Thanksgiving turkeys.

“There are thousands of people starving on Long Island, including a lot of men and women who served the country," Jesberger said. "That’s completely unacceptable. With economic times being what they are; there are many more Long Island residents who are unemployed or underemployed. The need is so great. We need other businesses to step up and help put an end to hunger on Long Island.”