Hunger touches every part of a person's life

Long Island, like much of the nation, is facing a worsening hunger crisis. More families are coming to food pantries than at any time in recent memory, and our shelves are struggling to keep up. For individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse challenges, the need for a stable and secure food source is even greater.

The prolonged federal government shutdown disrupted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides resources to high-need individuals and families so they can buy food. But even with the shutdown ended, the problems remain. The "One Big Beautiful Bill" enacted this year cuts $187 billion of SNAP funding over the next decade, a 20% reduction, as new rules push people out of the program. The federal government has also cut $500 million from the Emergency Food Assistance Program, about a quarter of its funding, significantly reducing the fresh food available to food pantries nationwide.

Our leaders in Washington must find a way to work together and restore this critical funding. They must find a way for the mother in Huntington who is struggling with addiction and must also feed herself and her family. And they must find a way for the 35-year-old man who has spent his life on the streets, and is now living in supportive housing, to have access to food, providing a critical sense of security.

Across Long Island, 1 in 12 residents — roughly 240,000 people, including more than 44,000 children — were facing food insecurity even before these setbacks.

At WellLife Network, we see how hunger touches every part of a person's life. We're one of the region's largest human services organizations, supporting more than 25,000 New Yorkers each year through housing, behavioral health, and community-based programs.

Whether someone comes to us for mental health support, addiction recovery or help to find a stable place to live, food is so often the first bridge we build together. It's a simple act, but it tells people that they're seen, they matter and they don't have to face this alone. When that basic need isn't met, the stress can be overwhelming, adding another layer of worry to lives already stretched thin.

Through our food pantries in Coram, Huntington, Smithtown and Wyandanch and home-delivery programs, we help make sure that the people we support have nutritious meals, providing a holistic approach to their care. Visits to our pantries have risen by 30% over the past year.

Gov. Kathy Hochul fast-tracked more than $100 million to help address the crisis, but the state can't fill the gap on its own. As the need grows, we implore our leaders in Washington to find a path forward that helps ensure the Americans who need SNAP the most can continue to benefit from it. They also must restore resources to the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

At the same time, we are increasingly relying on our community to help us meet this challenge, through donations, food drives and volunteer support. It's clear, as we contend with these federal cuts that aren't going away anytime soon, that the need will last year-round.

Hunger is not just about food; it’s about opportunity, health and hope. If Long Island is to be a place where everyone has a chance to thrive, we must make food security a shared priority. Together, we can ensure that every person who comes through our doors has not only a meal but a pathway to recovery and stability, because no one can build a better life on an empty stomach.

This guest essay reflects the views of Sherry Tucker, the CEO of WellLife Network.