STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As the holiday season approaches, food drives across Staten Island are ramping up to meet growing community needs. In preparation, local pantry leaders are sharing best practices for edible donations to ensure that contributions are both helpful and safe. Over the years of their service, they’ve offered their sage advice.

Joe “Preach” Meizlik of the South Shore Community Food Pantry in Tottenville presented practical advice: “People will take anything. But this time of year, they want cranberry sauce, bagged or boxed stuffing mixes, rice ... Hopefully people are going to get lucky and get a turkey.”

Joe Bertone of the St. Clare’s pantry emphasized the importance of quality and consideration. “Don’t give expired things or open packages. People just clean out their pa

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