Atlantic Toyota’s Annual Food Drive: How You Can Help This October

This October, the team at Atlantic Toyota is doing what our dealerships do every fall: collecting food for Long Island families who need it. The Annual Food Drive is one of the ways our stores give back together, and it only works because people like you bring something in. Here’s how to take part, and why we keep showing up for it.

A tradition across our stores

Our dealerships run this food drive together every year, and Dennis O’Donnell is championing it again in 2026. Each store gets one collection box, and every box is picked up on the same day. It’s a simple idea that adds up: one showroom’s worth of cans is a good start, and a whole group of showrooms is a truckload of meals.

How to give at Atlantic Toyota

Our box is in the showroom and stays out through Thursday, October 22, 2026. It’s picked up Friday, October 23, so plan to drop off before then.

We’re collecting dry goods and canned goods, such as:

• Pasta, rice and other grains
• Cereal and oatmeal
• Canned soup, chili and stew
• Canned vegetables, fruit and beans
• Peanut butter

No appointment needed, and you don’t have to be shopping for a car. Let anyone at the front desk know you’re here for the food drive.

A few tips that help the food bank

Bring food that’s in date, unopened and shelf-stable. Plastic and cans are better than glass, which can break. If you can, mix it up: a family can make a dinner out of pasta, a can of sauce and a can of vegetables much more easily than out of three cans of corn.

Why we do it

Food insecurity on Long Island is quieter than people think. It’s the coworker whose hours got cut, the grandparent on a fixed income, the family that just got a big repair bill. A bag of groceries won’t change everything, but it takes one worry off the table for a week, and that matters.

Make it part of your routine this month

The easiest way to give is to fold it into what you already do. Add one or two pantry items to your cart every time you shop this month and keep them in a bag by the door. By October 22 you’ll have a full bag without ever making a special trip. If you’re already coming to Atlantic Toyota for service or to check out a new Toyota, bring it along and drop it in the box on your way in.

Bring your team, your class or your block

Food drives grow fast when a group gets behind them. Put a box in the break room at work, ask your kid’s team or class to pitch in, or get a few neighbors on the street to fill a bag together. If you’re bringing in a big load, call us first so we can make room by the box.

Healthier picks go further

If you want your donation to do a bit more, choose lower-sodium canned soup and vegetables, fruit packed in juice, and whole-grain pasta or brown rice. Anything safe and in date is welcome, but these staples help families who are watching their health on a tight budget.

What happens after pickup

Once the boxes are picked up on Friday, October 23, the food from every store in the drive comes together and heads out to help Long Island families who are short on groceries. Pantries sort what comes in by type and date, which is why in-date, unopened food matters so much: it can go straight onto shelves and into bags for families, with nothing wasted. Your can of soup really does end up on someone’s table.

One more way to help: October 25 in Brentwood

On Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 9 AM to 3 PM, the Big Rigz Hammerdown “Show & Shine” comes to Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood. It’s a Truckers for Turkeys event with big rigs, trophies, raffles and food, and all are welcome. Canned goods, frozen turkeys, other non-perishables and cash donations there go to Long Island Cares, the Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank. Details are at truckersforturkeys.com.