There has been an alarming increase in the number of people and families going hungry in this pandemic.

After losing his job during the pandemic, a Freeport man, who asked not to show his face or provide his name, says he goes to food banks to get his groceries.

"I just get enough for me and my girlfriend, we just have a studio apartment, that's all I can afford right now," he said.

Long Island Cares CEO Paul Pachter says during the pandemic they saw an increase of nearly 200,000 people in Nassau and Suffolk visiting their food pantries.

"Because of COVID-19, the numbers are increasing and going in the wrong direction. My hope is that they're going in the wrong direction temporarily," said Pachter.

Pachter says the enormous increase is because of the unemployment spike. He says people are still struggling and will continue to do so.

"The closing of businesses, temporary furloughs and layoffs, which are now 30% of those layoffs and furloughs are now becoming permanent unemployment," said Pachter.

Long Island Cares says the food insecurity level will probably stay where it is for at least another year. But they say they have more than enough food to feed anyone who's hungry.

"With the support that we were able to receive in 2020, both private funding, corporate support and government support, we have the resources and the tools to successfully meet the demand that we're looking at right now," said Pachter.

Pachter says between March 2020 and March 2021, Long Island Cares distributed nearly 19 million pounds of food feeding close to 300,000 people.