Page 24 - 13th Annual Long Island Imagine Awards Program

Rising Star

Mayhem, President Dawn Lang, President
Bikers Against Child Abuse, Inc. (B.A.C.A.) Long Island Lending A Helping Hand
P.O. Box 606, Deer Park, NY 11729 341 NY-25A, Rocky Point, NY 11778
(631) 408-8218 | www.bacaworld.org/newyork/long-island-chapter (631) 849-3653 | www.lilahh.com
Long Island Lending a Helping Hand (LILAHH) is a food pantry and community center located
Bikers Against Child Abuse, Inc. (B.A.C.A.) exists with the intent to create a safer environment for in Rocky Point, NY. Our mission is to support our neighbors by providing guidance and
abused children. We exist as a body of Bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world assistance as they work to overcome challenges or make ends meet. Our non-profit 501c3
in which they live. We stand ready to lend support to our wounded friends by involving them
with an established, united organization. We work in conjunction with local and state officials volunteer-led community center provides food, personal care items, other necessities, programs
and services to anyone in need.
who are already in place to protect children. We desire to send a clear message to all involved
with the abused child that this child is part of our organization, and that we are prepared to While our primary focus is on providing food, we understand that food-insecure families
lend our physical and emotional support to them by affiliation, and our physical presence. We often face other challenges. In response, we have expanded our programs to address their
stand at the ready to shield these children from further abuse. We do not condone the use of social, emotional, and physical needs. This includes offering toiletries, baby essentials, holiday
violence or physical force in any manner, however, if circumstances arise such that we are the distributions, special programs (such as Lil Hands school snacks, breakfast bags, birthday bags, and
only obstacle preventing a child from further abuse, we stand ready to be that obstacle. personal care kits), as well as ‘free’ yard sales.
The need in our community is growing. The number of pantry visits increased by over 64%
from 2023 to 2024. Last year, we helped the equivalent of 7,732 individuals from 46 different
towns across Suffolk County, NY.
Our Facebook page, which helps individuals connect and share food, household goods,
children’s items, and more, is a hub of activity with over 13,000 members and an average of
over 500 posts each month.
As a volunteer-only organization, we are deeply grateful for the support of our community.
Through the dedication of volunteers, local donations, and small grants, we have been able to
grow and expand our services. We accomplish so much by developing strong partnerships and
leveraging social media and technology to reach those in need.

Christine Rice, Board Chair Joanna Formont, LMHC, Executive Director
NOSH Delivers! SIBSPlace
15 Hill St, Glen Cove, NY 11542 510 Merrick Road Rockville Centre, NY 11570
(516) 366-0277 | www.noshdelivers.org (516) 374-3000 | www.sibsplace.org
SIBSPlace (Survivorship in Brothers and Sisters) is a free program serving well children ages
NOSH Delivers! (NOSH) was founded in 2020 at the height of the Covid Pandemic. Families 5-17, with a sibling with cancer or another devastating medical illness, a parent with a cancer
with children unable to go to school and receive free breakfast and lunch, urgently needed diagnosis and child coping with the death of a sibling or parent. SIBSPlace provides guided
access to food. A group of local individuals saw the need and created NOSH Delivers to provide therapeutic peer support to help children develop skills to cope with the emotional impact of
families with weekly deliveries of NOSH bags filled with nutritious food. a loved one’s medical diagnosis or loss. When a loved one is diagnosed with a life-threatening
illness, each member of a family is impacted. Children are most vulnerable due to their limited
As Covid ended, at NOSH we realized that, with the rising cost of food and housing, combined ability to fully understand their emotional responses. The family system is thrown off-balance
with intergenerational poverty, many families still needed our help. The problem of food as finances and stability at home are often compromised and separations due to hospitalizations
insecurity extended well beyond the pandemic. Today, NOSH volunteers provide food to more are necessary. As the medical needs become a priority, the well child is often left feeling anxious,
than 700 families every week. While we still deliver to many of these families, we also operate a isolated, and confused. There is a shift in the child’s sense of safety which is further impacted
food pantry open four mornings a week, every other Saturday and Tuesday evenings. when grieving the death of a parent or sibling. This population becomes an at-risk group who
need to develop skills and identify proper support to help manage this life-changing crisis.
NOSH has been able to accomplish all of this by building a wide network of more than
260 volunteers who deliver NOSH bags and staff the food pantry. We have only two paid SIBSPlace started in 2000 and is an affiliate of Mount Sinai South Nassau. Our anticipatory
staff members. Importantly, these volunteers also network with the broader community and grief/bereavement curriculum is facilitated by mental health staff who encourage identification
encourage them to become involved by sponsoring food drives, running fundraising events and and sharing of feelings. Self-esteem is nurtured and relationships fostered through fundamental
becoming volunteers themselves. NOSH volunteers also run a youth program that encourages childhood experiences including homework assistance, meals, and empowerment activities.
the next generation to volunteer and give back to their community by helping others. It is Expressive arts groups are offered in a comforting environment where emotional needs are
because of this strong community support that NOSH Delivers! continues to meet the growing paired with engaging directives which offer diversions from stress. Children interact with peers
need as we work to fulfill our vision of a hunger-free thriving community. they can identify with, verbalize their feelings, and receive non-judgmental validation. By
fostering resilience, emotional regulation, and problem-solving abilities, our prevention-based
model supports children during this current family crisis and equips them with essential skills
for future challenges.
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