Adrienne Ciampi

Adrienne Ciampi had been working as a nanny for an East Meadow family until the pandemic hit, and she lost her job and the income that came with it. She immediately looked for work, and landed a job working remotely for a home health care agency. Her mornings are spent helping her children adjust to remote learning and living, and her evenings, working her new job. She is grateful for these opportunities and inspired to do more for others like those who lost their incomes or the ability to earn due to layoffs or health concerns.

She began doing outreach through social media to facilitate ways to obtain donations for local food pantries. What started as a simple trip to get donations to Calvary Lutheran Church in East Meadow has turned into full-time dedication to fill food pantries – mainly at Wisdom Lane School in Levittown and Lutheran Social Services in Uniondale. She began planning times and pickups throughout Long Island, from Valley Stream to West Islip.

Ms. Ciampi collects monetary donations as well, using the money to shop for the food and supplies that are in shortage. She reads and replies to messages and phone calls, every hour of every day. What started off as one or two days is now ongoing weekly, as pickups and drop-offs have gathered over 3,000 pounds of food and supplies. A major factor in the success is the help of Adrienne’s son, James, who just finished his freshman year at Alvernia University in Reading, PA. The University motto is “To Learn, To Love, To Serve” and this has been a motivating factor in her volunteerism during this time.

Ms. Ciampi’s strength as a woman, and her dedication and selflessness as a mother, has benefitted many people in Long Island during a time of fear and heartbreak.