Food insecurity is becoming a big problem across Long Island as inflation forces prices up.

Island Harvest unveiled a new facility in Melville to try to tackle the hunger problem.

"This is the place, this is the culmination of all we've been for to realize our vision that began 30 years ago," says Island Harvest CEO Randi Shubin.

The nonprofit started with the mission to help a women's shelter with donated food from a convenience store.

Now it serves 18 million pounds of food a year to hungry residents of Long Island and helps dozens of community food banks.

The 43,000-square-foot building is twice as big as Island Harvest's previous facility, and it comes as demand for food is up more than 80% over previous years.

Island Harvest says it has distributed more than 15 million meals and the new facility will be able to do even more.

Disabled Navy veteran Don Pelkey says he doesn't know how he would survive if it wasn't for Island Harvest dropping off boxes of food.

Nina Igbokwe, of Central Islip, also receives help from Island Harvest through its donation to her church. She hopes more people who are struggling will reach out, saying there is nothing wrong with asking for help.

The new facility will help with food distribution and will have an education space for nutrition and job training.