Each November, the FA donates $1,200 to the college food pantries, which are now affiliated with LI Cares. As statistics on the LI Cares website show, an estimated 234,000 people on LI suffer from food insecurity, including 65,000 children. We know this includes some of our students and their families.

• FA brings Thanksgiving donations to three campus food pantries: The FA again donated our usual $400 worth of groceries to each of the three campus food pantries this year. Each campus had requested that we donate supermarket gift cards that students can use to keep themselves nourished and healthy through the Thanksgiving season.
  
  As the campus pantries are now affiliated with Long Island Cares, we know that our donations really help make a difference. LI Cares notes that “approximately 40% of food-insecure Long Island households are above the poverty level but don’t make enough to keep up with the high cost of living... making them ineligible for nutrition assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).” Learn more about food insecurity on Long Island on the LI Cares website and if you would like to get involved reach out to your Campus Activities office or donate directly to the pantries on the SCC Foundation website.
  
  
• Updated FA Benefit Fund Booklet is now available: The trustees of the FA Benefit Fund, which include all six FA officers and Guild President Sean Tvelia, have been working over the past year to update the FA Benefits Booklet. Since distribution of the previous Benefits Booklet in 2016, the trustees have made many changes that reflect the supplemental benefits members want and use. The 2023 Benefits Booklet describes all the benefits currently available to covered members and the procedures to access those benefits through the Benefit Fund. Access the pdf on the FA website: 2023 FA Benefits Booklet.
  
  
• Wintersession 2024 checks: According to payroll, faculty who teach during the wintersession will receive one check on January 25.
  
  
• Holiday hours for the FA office and Benefit Fund office: The FA office will be closed December 21 to January 2. The Benefit Fund office will be closed during the same timeframe.