I received a phone call from a neighbor last week. Her 12-year-old son had been reading some of the stories in Newsday that described how many of the Long Island organizations that distribute food to the needy had run out of food. The boy found the prospect of families going hungry on Thanksgiving very upsetting.

He asked his mom if he could take his birthday money (he had just turned 12 in November) and use it to buy food for families in need. His mother agreed and matched her son's donation dollar for dollar. Thanks to the generosity of this one family, 40 other families enjoyed a great Thanksgiving meal.

If you'd like to help local families in need, here's a list compiled by the Interfaith Nutrition Network of items you could donate: canned soup, vegetables, fruit, tuna fish, pasta and pasta sauce, peanut butter and jelly; new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages; personal care items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, floss, chapstick, hand and body lotion, combs, tissues, deodorant, shaving cream and disposable razors, toilet paper, and feminine hygiene products; and new and gently used bed linens, blankets, towels, and washcloths.

Donations may be brought to 7 Lee Court West, Great Neck, NY 11024. For directions or additional information, please call 917-418-2451 or email: davegolbert@yahoo.com

Each of us can make a difference in the lives of our less fortunate neighbors. Each of us must try.