Food pantries and food banks in the Hudson Valley are seeing a need like never before. On top of that, funding challenges at the federal level are trickling down to them.

Trina Ward Fontaine is the executive director at the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry.

The organization serves families across 21 northern Westchester County communities.

"There's a misconception of who comes to the food pantry, about 75% here do have someone in their household who is employed," said Ward Fontaine.

They're having to get creative in the pantry because they're seeing a need like never before.

"Just last month, we had 800 households come to us," says Ward Fontaine.

On top of rising food costs, they along with other organizations fighting hunger are facing challenges at the federal level.

"The USDA cut about $1 billion from food funding. The equivalent of what we have to make up from that is about a million pounds of food over the rest of the year," says Bruce Jackson, marketing and communications director with Feeding Westchester.

On Thursday evening, the community was invited out to discuss the need and to learn how they can help.

"The more that the community knows about the issue, the more they can take action," says Katie Pfeifer, with Volunteer New York.

Ward Fontaine says working together is what it all comes down to.

"Collaboration is the name of the game and how we're going to get through this next period of difficulty," says Fontaine.

Fontaine says no matter how difficult it is, they will adapt to make sure the community is fed.

If you would like to help in the fight against hunger, you can find those details below:

https://www.volunteernewyork.org/