While most people would be too embarrassed to admit now in the new year that they were actually concerned enough over the Y2K threat to stockpile food, these individuals who filled their basements with cans of artichoke hearts and vegetarian refried beans can make use of these products by donating them to food pantries around the area. In fact, St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church is currently planning a mid-January food drive. Every month St. Anne's asks their parishioners and the community to collect canned and boxed food with a long shelf life and bring it all to the church so that they may deliver it to a food pantry here on Long Island or bring it to a collection center for the victims of war and disaster abroad. This would be the perfect opportunity to relieve the Y2K overcrowding of home pantries and do some good for the hungry. Interested stockpilers can bring food to St. Anne's at 35 Dartmouth Street in Garden City on designated collection days each month and may call 352-5904 for more information on Hands of St. Anne's Food Drives. The Incorporated Village of Garden City is also home to almost a dozen houses of worship which conduct mission projects and can direct interested members and residents in the Village to food collection efforts. If looking to unload those 40 jars of Paul Newman's pasta sauce and dozens of boxes of falafel mix, please contact one of the following spiritual life centers: Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (420 Stewart Avenue) at 746-4426; Garden City Jewish Center (168 Nassau Boulevard) at 248-9180; St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (130 Fifth Street) at 747-3535; Unitarian Universalist Church of Central Nassau (Stewart Avenue and Nassau Boulevard) at 248-8855; Cathedral of the Incarnation (50 Cathedral Avenue) at 746-2955; Christ Episcopal Church (33 Jefferson Street) at 775-2626; Church in the Garden American Baptist (68 Osborne Road) at 746-0358; Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island (38 Old Country Road) at 741-7304; Garden City Community Church (Stewart Avenue and Whitehall Boulevard) at 746-1700; Presbyterian Church in Garden City (Chester Avenue and New Hyde Park Road) at 354-1848; and of course, St. Anne's Church as listed above. Nationally, interested donors can contact America's Second Harvest which helps supply 50,000 charities. America's Second Harvest President and CEO Deborah Leff has announced on Good Morning America and in USA Today that a new post Y2K program has been initiated called "Y Go to Waste." People can donate their non-perishable items to food banks across the country through this special program from Jan. 15 through Feb. 15. For more information, call 1-800-771-2303 or access its website at www.seondharvest.org. One resident commented, "Perhaps this Y2K business and all that silly advice to hide boxes of cereal and cans of lima beans was really a cosmic plan to get people to be more charitable. What are people going to do with all of those gallons of water and cans of instant mashed potatoes? They can donate them to St. Anne's or some other food drive and do some good. The schools also often collect food and so do the Scouting groups throughout the Village. People should call them too and see if they want to collect it." The American Red Cross is also an organization that provides food to the victims of natural disasters, fires and other events and there is a local chapter located in Mineola. For more information about the Red Cross, call 747-1730. The Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, Inc. also collects and provides emergency food for the needy and can be contacted at 292-9710.