Long Island Cares

With federal SNAP funding set to run out this weekend, food pantries across Riverhead are seeing a surge in demand. Volunteers say shelves could soon run bare as more families turn to them for help.

Food banks and pantries document the rising needs of low-income households in reports they must file to obtain state funding. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $227 billion executive budget demonstrates that the administration either isn’t paying attention or doesn’t care. RiverheadLOCAL editorial

As inflation drives food costs up, and temporary SNAP benefits put in place during COVID end, more families are turning to local food pantries for help, but the governor's budget would slash a key assistance program by almost 40%.

Nancy Trofemuk of Calverton, a longtime volunteer at the Open Arms Care Center, which runs a food pantry out of First Baptist Church of Riverhead, was honored by Long Island Cares with its Nancy Bern Volunteer of the Year Award.

Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo will be teaming up with Long Island Cares to host a food drive Saturday, Aug. 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at King Kullen in Wading River.

Long Island Cares will bring its mobile food pantry to the Riverhead Free Library to distribute free three-day supplies of food to local families in need.