What to Donate to a Food Drive, and Where It Goes on Long Island

Most of us want to help when a food drive comes around, then stand in front of the pantry wondering what to grab. Atlantic Hyundai has a collection box in our showroom this month for our dealerships' Annual Food Drive, so we put together a quick guide to the donations that do the most good, and what happens to them after you drop them off.

Start with the staples

Food banks and pantries lean on the same handful of foods because they last, travel well and turn into real meals. If you only bring a few things, make them these:

• Pasta and rice, the base of a lot of family dinners
• Cereal and oatmeal for breakfast
• Canned soup and stew, which are a full meal on their own
• Canned vegetables and fruit
• Canned tuna, chicken and beans for protein
• Peanut butter, ideally in a plastic jar

A mix is better than ten of the same item. A family can do a lot with pasta, a can of sauce and a can of vegetables.

What to leave at home

A few things cause more trouble than they're worth at a collection box. Skip anything that needs a refrigerator or freezer, homemade food, opened packages and glass jars, which can break in transit. And take a quick look at the dates. Food that's past its date usually can't be given out, so it gets thrown away instead of eaten.

Where to drop it off

Our box is in the Atlantic Hyundai showroom through Thursday, October 22, 2026. The boxes from every store in the drive are picked up on Friday, October 23. Our showroom box takes dry goods and canned goods, so stick to the shelf-stable list above. You don't need an appointment. Tell anyone at the front desk you're there for the food drive and we'll show you where it goes.

Why every can counts

Our dealerships run this drive together every year, and Dennis O'Donnell is leading it again. Each store's box on its own is modest. Together they add up to a real delivery of food for Long Island families who are having a hard time stretching the grocery budget. That can be anyone: a neighbor between jobs, a senior on a fixed income, a family hit with a big bill.

Easy ways to give more without spending more

You don't have to buy a cartful to make a difference. Pick up one extra can of soup or one box of pasta each time you shop this month, and by October 22 you'll have a full bag. Watch for buy-one-get-one sales on pantry staples and drop the free one in a bag by the door. Store brands work just as well as name brands, and they stretch your dollars further.

Get your office or team involved

A food drive is one of the easiest group projects there is. Put a box in the break room, send a quick note with the shelf-stable list above and the October 22 deadline, and bring it all in together. Kids' sports teams, scout troops and neighbors on the same block do this too. If you're bringing a big load, give us a call first so we can make room by the box.

A note on nutrition

If you want your donation to go further, look for lower-sodium soups and vegetables, fruit packed in juice rather than syrup, and whole-grain pasta or brown rice. Food banks are always glad to get anything that's safe and in date, but healthier staples help families who are managing things like blood pressure or diabetes on a tight budget.

Can't make it in? There's a truck show for that

On Sunday, October 25, 2026, the Big Rigz Hammerdown "Show & Shine" runs from 9 AM to 3 PM at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood. Canned goods, frozen turkeys, other non-perishables and cash donations collected there benefit Long Island Cares, the Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank. It's a family-friendly day with big rigs, trophies, raffles and food, and all are welcome. You can find details at truckersforturkeys.com.