Long Islanders are finding it harder to pay for the necessities this summer with inflation up.

The U.S. reported that inflation reached a new 40-year high last month of 9.1%.

Central Islip resident Allen Pershinsky went to a food drive at the nonprofit Lighthouse Mission on Wednesday to fill up his bag with items to make it through the week. He says he wouldn't have food at all if it weren’t for the food pantry.

“Things are going up so much, you can't buy the amount that you used to,” Pershinsky says. “'I used to come sporadically, but now every week because of the economy.”

Pershinsky is on Social Security and says he is struggling to make ends meet. Even the price of filling up his home oil tank has soared. He says usually 200 gallons is $500, but now it was over $1,000.

Pastor Howie Mann, of Lighthouse Mission, says Pershinsky is not alone, and many more people have been reaching out for help. He says over 1,000 new people have attended a food drive in the last month. 

“People are scared, and they come to us,” Mann says. “It is not easy, it really isn't. We're all going through the same thing. I am going through it myself, struggling for food.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer, prices are up significantly compared to last year in the month of June. Gas is up 61.1%, electricity is up 13.7% and groceries are up 12.2%

Many people are hoping that the struggle just to get by won't last forever, but for now they will cut corners where they can.

The Consumer Price Index saw the biggest yearly increase since 1981.

Visit Lighthouse Mission’s website to find out ways to donate or to attend a food drive event.