A clear night sky, views of the Moon’s craters and a glimpse of Saturn made for a memorable evening at the third annual No Space for Hunger event on Friday, October 23, at Robert Moses State Park.

Hauppauge High School science teacher and Astronomy Club advisor Jeff Yablon helped organize the event alongside local amateur astronomers and Long Island Cares, bringing together a shared passion for astronomy and a commitment to helping those in need. At Field 2, astronomers lined up their telescopes and welcomed participants to explore the night sky while supporting Long Island Cares, The Harry Chapin Food Bank. Attendees were encouraged to contribute nonperishable food or monetary donations to help address food insecurity on Long Island.

The event grew from the idea of combining public stargazing with community service. As local amateur astronomers shared their telescopes, knowledge and enthusiasm for the night sky, participants had the opportunity to experience celestial sights firsthand while supporting an important cause.

The Patch recently featured No Space for Hunger in an article exploring the history of the event and how it came to unite astronomy enthusiasts with the fight against hunger. The story highlights organizer Don Simon’s vision for combining his passion for stargazing with his longtime volunteer work with Long Island Cares, as well as Hauppauge High School’s involvement through its Astronomy Club.

To learn more about how this meaningful community tradition began, read the full article on Patch: Stargazing, Food Drive Come Together at Robert Moses for ‘No Space for Hunger’.

It was a wonderful evening that brought science, discovery and service together for a worthy cause, reminding us how shared interests can make a meaningful difference in our community.