‘Care Caravan’ Returns

More than 250 meals were given out by volunteers from nonprofits Adelante of Suffolk County and Pronto of Long Island this past week by a “Care Caravan.”

The joint project is called Help Everyone Love People (HELP) and aims to provide food and supplies to local people struggling with homelessness.

“The COVID pandemic has made an already difficult situation much worse, and people are in real need of help right now,” said Maidaya Maldonado, director of Adelante. “Adelante, together with our neighbor Pronto of Long Island, have again joined forces to collect food, clothing and other much-needed items and distributed them to those who need it the most. We couldn’t do this without the generous support of our sponsors.”

The Adelante and Pronto vans will be filled with hot and cold food for about 250 people, as well as clothing, personal protection equipment and hygiene products, all donated by local sponsors, including Carroll’s Kitchen, United Health Care,  and Communities Loving Communities. More than 250 meals were given out by volunteers from Adelante, Pronto, United Health Care and the students from God’s Blessing Plan.

“Serving our community with our sister organization Adelante is a blessing, and we will continue to work together to help our brothers and sisters in need,” said Marc Soto, executive director of Pronto of Long Island.

Volunteers from Pronto and Adelante helped to distribute the supplies, and a strong contingent from Brentwood High School’s My Brother’s Keeper group also participated. The Suffolk County Police Department was also present to assist at each of the four stops.

Included in the care packages provided by the Care Caravan is contact information for emergency housing options, mental health crisis hotline, and other outreach organizations that can assist people struggling with homelessness.

For more information about Adelante of Suffolk or Pronto Long Island please visit www.adelantesc.org. and https://www.prontolongisland.org/.