Long Islanders turn to emergency food providers as dollar stores become too expensive
The Dollar General in Lindenhurst says it had to throw food away because it has been like a ghost town in their food section.
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Some Long Islanders are ditching dollar stores due to rising costs and are looking for other options just to put food on the table.
The Dollar General in Lindenhurst says it had to throw food away because it has been like a ghost town in their food section.
Supervisor for Programs and Community Service at Long Island Cares Jessica Rosati says many of the customers who were getting their food from discount stores are now coming to emergency food providers.
"When you have a family who is destitute or who have limited income and perhaps, they lost their emergency COVID relief, even dollar store prices are a little bit too high," Rosati says.
The CEO of Dollar General also says the company's loss of customers can be attributed to the loss of benefits and reduced tax refunds.
Rosati says some emergency food providers on Long Island are seeing more than 100 families a day.
Dollar General shopper Carey Clarke says the needs of the consumers who cannot afford basic needs are being ignored by those in power in the state.
"It's up to state officials, it's up to the actual government to be involved and actually give something basically," Clarke says. "I don't have faith in them right now, not at all."
Long Island Cares says their services are limited and they can only provide so many things. They say currently vegetables and fruits that are in season, so they are less expensive to purchase.
