Food pantries lack budget and staff
From right, Joe Fernandes, of Flushing, Trudy Keegan, of Carle Place, and Josephine Romano, of Westbury, volunteer at St. Bridgid's Catholic Outreach in December 2009. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Regarding "Food pantries are not going empty" [Letters, April 19], this is nice to know. But while the writers focus on Island Harvest and Long Island Cares, these are not direct providers. I work with two pantries in Hicksville, and neither has enough volunteers to remain open five days a week to meet the growing need.
Suffolk and Nassau governments have contracted with the Long Island Council of Churches to serve clients referred by the counties. County grants have covered operating costs. The loss of these grants means the pantries cannot remain open; not for lack of food, but for lack of facilities and staff. This is the issue raised by the Rev. Thomas W. Goodhue ["How can we say no to the hungry?" Opinion, April 12].
Since many of the needy walk or ride buses to receive services, forming mega-pantries by consolidation or merging would reduce the availability of services for many residents.
Our county budgets are stretched beyond their limits. No one wants to pay taxes to maintain services that they themselves do not receive. Who then will care for the most needy among us?
Rev. Harold Lay
Editor's note: The writer is the pastor of the Parkway Community Church and sits on the governing board of the Long Island Council of Churches.
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