September 20, 2012 - West Babylon, NY - The Long Island Board of REALTORS® (LIBOR) is proud to announce the launch of their 5th Annual REALTORS® Against Hunger (RAH) campaign, to fight hunger in our local communities. Through RAH, which was created in 2008 by LIBOR’s Public Relations committee, Long Island REALTORS® will be collecting donations of non perishable food items from September till the end of December at various real estate offices throughout Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties. This collection is to support Island Harvest, Long Island Cares - The Harry Chapin Food Bank, the Long Island Council of Churches, the Queens Federation of Churches, and other community pantries in their efforts to provide food to hundreds of local food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs that feed the hungry.

“This year, LIBOR is again proud to participate in the REALTORS® Against Hunger campaign.  The economy continues to leave many Long Islanders in Queens, Nassau and Suffolk in dire straits, unable to put food on the table.  I recently heard on the radio that as many as 1 in 6 throughout the country are in this situation.  The LIBOR theme that ‘We’re More than REALTORS®’ again holds true. In addition to the many Real Estate offices that are participating, the LIBOR REALTOR® Service Centers in Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties will also serve as collection points, where food can be dropped off.  All food donations will stay here on Long Island and I know the REALTOR® family will step up to the plate to assist our neighbors.” said LIBOR President Don Scanlon, whose own office has participated in this program since its inception.

According to Island Harvest, one of our beneficiary food banks who have designated September as “Hunger Action Month,” hunger is a year-round issue for nearly 300,000 of our neighbors. With more than 168,000 people live under the poverty level on Long Island and more than 110,000 children food insecure, the time is now to action.

 “As the US slowly recovers from a hard hit economy, so are the millions of food pantries across the country and on Long Island.  As LIBOR launches its 5th year of the RAH campaign, we're hoping to help fill the depleted shelves throughout Long Island’s food pantries, which in turn will get food to those in our community who need it most.” further notes LIBOR President-elect Moses Seuram.

LIBOR is committed to making strides towards solutions for this harrowing epidemic, through the REALTORS® Against Hunger campaign, and working with community organizations and outreach programs to do so. For additional information about the RAH program and for a list of drop-off locations, please visit www.lirealtorsagainsthunger.com.

REALTORS® Against Hunger is a part of the Long Island Board of REALTORS® “We’re More Than REALTORS®” initiative, which supports numerous programs and charitable community organizations.  The “We’re More Than Realtors® campaign was created by the LIBOR Public Relations Committee.  The campaign raises the public’s awareness about Realtors® and their philanthropic efforts within their communities.