Long Island Cares and the Harry Chapin Food Bank has named their first new CEO in 17 years.

Katherine M. Fritz will take over the food bank, which has an annual budget exceeding $40 million and distributes more than 1 million pounds of food per month to Long Islanders in need.

Fritz has worked at the Hauppauge-based food bank for six years as the nonprofit’s vice president of development and communications, where she focused on fundraising with donors. She previously worked for more than a decade for the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs, based in Smithtown.

She takes over the position during a turbulent time for food banks nationally as they face federal spending cuts and an increased demand from families who cannot afford to put food on the table.

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