East End food pantry sees decline in people coming to them because of immigration concerns
As News 12 reported, multiple Long Island Cares pantries saw big increases in the number of families they served from the last week of October to the first week of this month, such as Valley Stream, which saw an increase of 120%.
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One Long Island Cares pantry says they saw a drop in people coming in last week due to immigration fears.
The Long Island Cares Hampton Bays food pantry typically serves 150 families per week.
But they recently saw a dramatic drop.
"It's the immigration issues," says Yenny Buitrago, with Long Island Cares.
As News 12 has reported, multiple Long Island Cares pantries saw big increases in the number of families they served from the last week of October to the first week of this month, such as Valley Stream, which saw an increase of 120%.
But in Hampton Bays, they saw a 21% drop.
"Last week, ICE was here and they took 12 people and that's why last week was a little quiet," says Buitrago.
Buitrago says many of the families they serve are immigrant families. She says many of them are afraid to come for food and be in public.
"The holiday is around the corner and people need more food," she says.
Despite the 21% drop, the Hampton Bays pantry there is still a need for donations for the coming holidays.
OLA of Eastern Long Island says they're not surprised that less families picked up food at the pantry.
"Some of the very key areas of life are being disconnected right now for a lot of our community members because of fear and because of uncertainty," says executive director Minerva Perez.
Perez says they're reaching out to food pantries and individuals who need help.
"We could see if there are volunteers that we have in our team or other volunteers that we can work with to coordinate how that food gets picked up for your family and brought to either your home or a location at a house of faith that you feel safe going to pick it up from," says Perez.
