Feeding military veterans in the heart of Nassau County

It’s hard to miss Nassau University Medical Center as you’re driving in either direction on Hempstead Turnpike. The 19-story hospital dominates the skyline. But not many people know about the buildings adjacent to NUMC:  Building Q houses the Veterans Service Agency and the Veterans Affairs Clinic and a food pantry just for veterans.

The Veterans Food Pantry, or “Vet Mart,” has been open since 2015, said Ralph Esposito, the director of the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency and the pantry. “I did this because there was a need for veterans,” Esposito said. “They go into the local pantries, but I said, ‘You know what? I have the room. Why don’t I just make a pantry here?’”

The VA Clinic, in conjunction with the VSA, provides primary care and specialty health care for veterans, which includes mental health services. The pantry is run solely by volunteers, Esposito said.

To get the ball rolling some years ago, Esposito reached out to two food banks — Island Harvest and Long Island Cares — as well as American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts to spread the word and arrange for food supplies. The pantry is open Monday through Friday. It receives donations from school districts such as Elmont and Levittown and other citizens. Those who don’t want to donate food can donate gift cards that are used to buy food.

The Vet Mart feeds about 600 people a month, which includes veterans and their families. Volunteers will also deliver food to those who can’t make it there.

The veterans are allowed to come by for food once a week. Only staff goes into the pantry, so a menu is given to the veterans to fill out whatever they need and how much they need depending on if they’re only feeding themselves or a family.

Even though it’s a food pantry, it has everything a person or family could need, Esposito said. “We have food, we have diapers, we have toothpaste and toothbrushes, razors and shaving cream,” he said. “I have anything you can think of, within reason.”

There are usually three volunteers at the pantry at any given time. They help to sign in the veterans and gather the items. During the coronavirus pandemic, Esposito said, it was harder. “When the pandemic first started, nobody came in, I came in along with my deputy,” he said. “We opened the Vet Mart, even though we were supposed to work from home. So my deputy and I came in every day.”

Esposito said that fewer people came in for food during the pandemic, but now the numbers are picking up again.

John Scalesi, an Army veteran from Bellmore, has been volunteering since the Vet Mart opened. “I love to help everybody,” said Scalesi, a former commander of Disabled American Veterans Post 145 in Valley Stream. It’s important to stay involved, he said.

“I’ve been volunteering here for a couple months but I do a lot of volunteer work with the Veterans Service Agency because I’m a Vietnam veteran,” James Merritte said. “Veterans really need help and I want to give back because a lot of my family members followed me into the military and I want to make sure someone will look after them so I look out for other veterans.” The Hempstead resident spent 21 years in the Army and was a Sergeant First Class.

Along with giving out needed items, the Vet Mart also offers free transportation to VA Clinics in Northport, East Meadow, Valley Stream, and Hicksville. There are also wheelchairs and canes for people who need them. NY Project Hope, a non-profit organization that helps people in need of mental health services, also has a representative at the food pantry.

Ray Nordquist, a volunteer from North Bellmore, said that he was surprised by how many veterans don’t come to the pantry. “Especially now with food prices high I’m surprised they don’t come,” he said. Nordquist got involved because his son is in the military, and he wants to give back to veterans.

Esposito said the most popular food items are peanut butter and jelly and mac and cheese. To learn more about volunteer opportunities or to donate call (516) 572-6565 and ask for Linda.