Food pantries aren't going empty

We certainly understand the Rev. Thomas W. Goodhue's concern that recent budget reductions present new challenges to ensuring a sufficient food supply for all Long Islanders ["How can we say no to the hungry?" Opinion, April 12]. But while implying that government is taking food out of people's mouths is a compelling emotional appeal, we take issue with his characterization that our counties are telling the Long Island Council of Churches or any organization to "abandon the poor." Nothing could be further from reality.

In Suffolk, no food pantry shelves, in Riverhead or elsewhere, were empty at any time. That is ensured by Suffolk's contracts with Island Harvest and Long Island Cares. Recognizing the strains of a difficult economy, Suffolk County has kept its food pantry funding intact. In 2010, we increased the amount of funding to these agencies.

Both Nassau and Suffolk counties spend over $1 billion a year to provide essential services for the needy, including access to medical care, emergency shelters for homeless (which provide meals), temporary assistance for housing and heating energy assistance. Our counties' total food stamp expenses alone for 2010 totaled over $240 million. In addition, the Nassau County Department of Social Services provides applicants with a list of over 90 food pantry resources in 20 communities in the county.

It is also inaccurate to say that "it can take months for people who qualify for food stamps or other assistance to receive them." Expedited food stamps for applicants are authorized within five days.

But this is a two-way street. The not-for-profit community needs to re-examine its decades-old resistance to consolidating, affiliating or merging their programs in order to ensure that every agency can maximize its services given the shrinking availability of funding.

John E. Imhof

Mineola

Gregory J. Blass

Ronkonkoma

Editor's note: The writers are, respectively, the commissioners of social services for Nassau and Suffolk counties.