Lighthouse Mission sees weekly demand hit 2,200 people as community needs intensify
A soaring number of Long Islanders are turning to local food banks and pantries for help as the costs of living, fuel and food keep rising.
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A soaring number of Long Islanders are turning to local food banks and pantries for help as the costs of living, fuel and food keep rising.
Food pantries are doing what they can to help.
"Sometimes we don't really have enough money to go shopping in the supermarket," Rocky Point resident Mercedes Hernandez said.
Hernandez, and over 50 others, were in Rocky Point on Wednesday to get free groceries from Lighthouse Mission.
"I come as much as I can," she added.
"Most people are going through something that is very difficult or they have gone through something terrible and it has left them in a position where, they are without food, without water," said Pastor Tim Loos, with Lighthouse Mission.
Lighthouse Mission said the need has grown to over 2,200 people each week, while donations have declined.
Its members say rising costs of food, living and fuel all play a part and they're doing what they can to help.
"When it starts to eat into people's budgets, it goes ahead and makes it more and more difficult for people to purchase the things that they have need of," Loos said.
For families, that support is felt — one bag of groceries at a time.
"We can see a difference because we don't have to go to the store so many times then to come here, but, it's a good way to save some money," Hernandez said.
