Long Island Business Hosting Annual Food Drive Calls For Volunteers To Help Fill Bags

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - For many, Thanksgiving is a time for giving back and helping those less fortunate. For one business, that is especially true in the wake of superstorm Sandy.

Mid Island Collision in Rockville Centre has purchased $100,000 in non-perishable food items to help provide thousands of Thanksgiving meals to charitable organizations hosting dinner and to individuals and families impacted by superstorm Sandy.

The "Fill The Bag" charity event brought in enough food to fill five tractor-trailers, Mid Island Collision owner Robert Jesberger said.

The food has all been purchased, but now Jesberger said he needs hundreds of volunteers to help fill individual bags of meals to be delivered.

The massive undertaking is set to begin Tuesday at noon.

"We originally said it was going to be 10,000 [bags], we well surpassed that. We look like we're going to have a minimum 15,000 bags, if not 20,000 bags will be filled. So we have on the line up to 24 hours, it may go through that because we have so many bags and we don't know that we're going to be able to fill the bags up within 24 hours. But we're going to start at 12 o'clock on Tuesday," Jesberger told 1010 WINS.

Jesberger said his annual "Fill The Bag" holiday tradition gives him and his employees a chance to give back to the community.

This is Mid Island Collision's 25th year running the food drive. In that time, nearly a million Long Islanders in need have benefitted from the "Fill The Bag" event.

Bags full of complete holiday meals will be picked up by Long Island residents and charity organizations including WhyHunger, Wounded Warrior Project, the Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth and schools, churches, synagogues and other non-profits hosting Thanksgiving dinner, according to a release from Mid Island Collision.

"Mid Island Collision is more than just a center for auto repair. We care about people and will do what we can in order to help those who are less fortunate," Jesberger said. "With the help of volunteers, thousands of people will be able to have a healthy meal this Thanksgiving holiday."

To schedule time to volunteer, contact Nicole Tirino by emailing volunteerheremic@gmail.com or click here for more information.

Will you be volunteering this Thanksgiving? Share your comments below...