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Wednesday, 07 December 2011 10:21 |
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The cupboards are nearly bare at food pantries throughout the region as emergency food programs struggle to meet rising demand with declining resources. Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, which operates 21 food pantries, shared photos from Our Lady of Solace food pantry in Coney Island which drive this point home.
“The hardest thing to do is explain to a hungry family that Catholic Charities simply does not have enough food to give them during a crisis,” said Robert Siebel, Chief Executive Officer at CCBQ. “That is what happened this Thanksgiving as hundreds of families lined up for emergency food baskets at our network of 21 pantries throughout Brooklyn and Queens.”
“Federal budget cuts have resulted in a 40% decrease in funding for emergency food and shelter, at the same time that many of our food pantries are seeing a 60-70% increase in need,” said Nina Valmonte, our Director for Parish and Community Outreach Services. “The food pantry at Our Lady of Solace in Coney Island is typical of most of the 21 food pantries in our network. Shelves are nearly bare!”
Siebel is urging New Yorkers to step up to the crisis. “I am asking you to join Catholic Charities in helping our neighbors this holiday season by dropping off nonperishable food items to a local food pantry, volunteering at one of our food pantries or simply making a donation through our website: www.ccbq.org,” he said. “Together, we can preserve the dignity of our neighbors.”
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