AuguryLong Island Comes Together: More Than 4,700 Turkeys Collected as Hunger Hits New Highs
This article was written by the Augury Times
A big haul, and why it matters right now
The 2025 FourLeaf Turkey Drive wrapped up with a large, plainly needed result: volunteers and donors collected more than 4,700 turkeys, donated more than 23,000 pounds of food and raised roughly $117,000 for local hunger relief. For families who worry about what will be on the table this winter, that haul is immediate help. For community leaders, it is also a stark sign of how much need remains.
The drive was a one-day effort that brought together faith groups, food pantries, businesses and thousands of people dropping off donations at sites across Long Island. Organizers said the turkeys and other food will be distributed to hundreds of households in the coming days, while cash contributions will buy perishable items and support refrigerated transport.
How big the problem is on Long Island
Food insecurity on Long Island has been growing for years. Local charities and these one-day drives are seeing more households who fall into a gap: families who earn too much to qualify for some government help but too little to pay for rising grocery bills, fuel and rent.
Organizers and pantry operators say the gap shows up at every distribution table. People who once came for a bag of groceries now need full meals; seniors on fixed incomes are choosing between medications and food; and households with kids are especially stretched when school meals are not available. Volunteers described long lines and a steady stream of first-time visitors in recent months.
Those running pantries note the seasonality, too. Holiday turkeys and meal boxes are a short-term relief that can lift pressure for a few weeks, but they cannot replace steady access to fresh food and predictable budgets. That is one reason the drive’s proceeds included cash: organizations want the flexibility to buy milk, fresh produce and dairy items that donations of canned goods and frozen birds do not cover.
How the drive worked and who showed up
The event used dozens of drop-off locations across Nassau and Suffolk counties. Local businesses served as collection hubs, and faith groups, neighborhood centers and area chambers of commerce helped staff the sites. Refrigerated trucks were on hand to keep perishable donations safe through the day.
More than 1,000 volunteers took shifts handing out donation bags, sorting food and loading trucks. Corporate sponsors provided packing materials and paid for extra freezer space. Mobile teams from local food banks coordinated routes so the donations reached pantries and shelters quickly.
Organizers said this cooperation kept the operation moving smoothly. “We planned for cold weather and crowds, but we were still moved by how many people stepped up,” said Maria Delgado, FourLeaf’s executive director. “Every turkey and every dollar means a family will have a warm meal this season.”
What this looks like for families on the ground
For recipients, the drive can be a brief, powerful relief. At one distribution site, volunteers handed a turkey and a small box of sides to a family leaving with a stroller. “I don’t know what we’d do without this,” said one recipient, who asked not to be named. “It takes a worry off my plate for now, and that matters.”
Organizers plan to get most donations to local food pantries within 48 hours. Pantries will combine the turkeys and donated goods with cash to buy fresh items and replenish shelves. Some of the food will go to emergency shelters and school programs that run weekend meal packs for children who rely on school lunches during the week.
For nonperishable goods, the drive helped refill basic staples that many families use daily. For perishable items and hot meals, the cash raised is especially valuable because it buys what is most needed at distribution time.
What comes next for the community
The FourLeaf Drive is a reminder that generosity is critical, but it is not a long-term fix. Community leaders say a fuller response will include more year-round food access, better coordination among pantries, and stronger policy steps to protect households from sudden price shocks.
Local groups are asking residents to consider ongoing support: volunteer time at pantries, small monthly donations that help buy fresh foods, and bringing needed items to neighborhood drop-off points. Policymakers are being urged to focus on measures that stabilize household budgets, such as improving benefit access and supporting school and senior nutrition programs.
As winter approaches, the donations collected at this one-day marathon of generosity will matter — but so will the follow-up. Organizers hope the attention the drive drew will translate into longer-term commitments that keep Long Islanders fed throughout the year.
Photo: RDNE Stock project / Pexels
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