District to Serve as a Community Collection Site Through the End of 2026

The Plainview Water District (PWD) is proud to announce that it will serve as an official food donation collection site benefiting Island Harvest Food Bank from now through the end of 2026. Residents are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to the District’s headquarters at 10 Manetto Hill Road and place them in the collection box located in the front office.

“Supporting the Plainview-Old Bethpage community and its surrounding areas has always been an important part of the District’s mission, and we are proud to lend a helping hand by supporting the remarkable work of Island Harvest,” said PWD Commissioner Marc Laykind. “Our residents have consistently shown that they are eager to join us in giving back, and this partnership provides another meaningful opportunity to work together on behalf of neighbors who may need additional support.”

For more than 30 years, Island Harvest has worked to end hunger and reduce food waste across Long Island. The organization helps thousands of families, children, seniors and veterans each week through a network of more than 300 food pantries, soup kitchens and community partners throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. According to Island Harvest, more than 240,000 Long Islanders experienced food insecurity in 2025. Donations collected through community food drives help the organization keep pantry shelves stocked and provide essential support to neighbors facing difficult choices between groceries and other household expenses.

PWD’s collection box will remain available in the front office through December 31, 2026. Community members may contribute when visiting the District to make an in-person bill payment, discuss an account or meet with a District representative. Donations may also be brought to the office specifically to support the food drive.

“The Plainview-Old Bethpage community always shows up in a tremendous way when there is an opportunity to help others,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “We see that generosity time and again through the fundraisers and collection drives held throughout our community. We encourage residents to bring an item or two during their next visit to the District and help us make this partnership as impactful as possible.”

Suggested nonperishable donations include canned or dried beans, canned vegetables, fruit packaged in natural juice, low-sodium soups, canned tuna or chicken, peanut butter and other nut butters, rice, quinoa, whole-grain pasta, cereal, oatmeal and shelf-stable milk. All items should be unopened and have a valid expiration date. Glass containers and prepared food should not be placed in the collection box.

Serving as a dependable community partner has long been a central part of the District’s role within Plainview-Old Bethpage. In addition to providing high-quality water to homes, schools and businesses, PWD continually looks for opportunities to support the people and organizations that help make the community a better place to live.

That commitment is reflected in several of the District’s longstanding initiatives. Each holiday season, PWD partners with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation to collect new, unwrapped toys for children and families in need. The District also hosts its annual Pharmaceutical Take Back Day, which gives residents a convenient opportunity to responsibly dispose of unwanted and expired medications while helping protect Long Island’s sole-source aquifer.

“Community service takes many forms, but each effort begins with neighbors recognizing an opportunity to help one another,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “By making food donations more convenient and keeping this collection available through the end of the year, we hope to provide Island Harvest with a steady source of support that will benefit our neighbors across Long Island.”

Additional information about Island Harvest Food Bank, its programs and its work throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties is available at www.islandharvest.org. Its current impact information and suggested donation guidance are available through the organization’s About Island Harvest and food drive resources.

For further information, or if you have any questions, please call the District at 516-931-6469, email info@plainviewwater.org or visit www.plainviewwater.org. Residents can also sign up to receive information by submitting their email address through the District’s homepage or following them on Facebook in order to stay up-to-date with District activities and initiatives.

            ###