First MTA food drive

The MTA, for the first time will hold a food drive at all its member agencies including NYCT, LIRR, MNCR, MTAPD
and Bridges & Tunnels. LIRR employees will load donated food onto a train at Jamaica bound
for delivery to Island Harvest in Ronkonkoma.

The Authority partnered with five local food banks to ensure donations go to the region each
agency serves, including City Harvest, Feeding Westchester, Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, The
Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County and Island Harvest. Food donations will be collected at
employee facilities throughout the MTA’s agencies. LIRR donations will be loaded onto a train at
Jamaica bound for Ronkonkoma where Island Harvest will collect them. Metro-North, with help
from MTAPD, is making deliveries to the food banks in its territory as donation boxes fill-up.

“The Long Island Rail Road is not just about moving trains, it’s part of the Long Island
community. If one person is struggling we are all struggling,” said Phillip Eng, President of Long
Island Rail Road. “We hope these donations make an impact on the Long Island communities
that we serve and love so much.”

Will a regular service M-7 electric train be used, or will LIRR commandeer a NYA diesel and caboose
for the special? (don't know if any cabooses are ready to use on LIRR roster and loading up a M-7 with
large boxes doesn't seem practical)

Either way, kudos to MTA and hope this becomes an annual custom. SEPTA, CTA and others have doing
it for many years.