As the cost of groceries continues to soar in 2026, many families in the Five Towns are facing increased challenges putting food on their table — and local nonprofits are trying to meet these obstacles head on.
Food prices rose 2.9 percent in 2025 and are projected to increase another 3 percent in 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.
Another hurdle for families involves changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which rolled out stricter requirements earlier this month.
When SNAP payments were suspended during the government shutdown in November, many families turned to the Veterans Farmers Market, at 275 Lawrence Ave. in Lawrence, a food pantry operated by the nonprofit Rock and Wrap It Up!
Syd Mandelbaum, the market’s founder, said that after working in a soup kitchen on Beach 74th Street in Far Rockaway, in 1988, he saw no reason to ask why visitors came for meals.
“We set up a place to increase dignity,” he said of the farmers market, which doesn’t require visitors to produce identification. “We want people to feel that there’s no shame in coming if you have a situation that you need food.”
While the farmers market is not required to pay rent on the Lawrence Avenue building, which was donated by the Town of Hempstead, it still must shell out $1,300 in expenses for utilities and food. The market, which is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays—10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for veterans and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the rest of the community—must rely on donations from community members, Costco Wholesale and Trader Joe’s. Donated items include vegetables, bread, snacks and frozen prepared meals like macaroni and cheese and stuffed peppers.
“Everyone contributes to forming our pantry,” Mandelbaum said.
The Rina Shkolnik Kosher Food Pantry, located at 591 Malvin Plaza, in Cedarhurst, is also experiencing adverse effects from the rising cost of food and the cuts to SNAP.
That pantry, run by The Marion & Aaron Gural JCC, is part of a social services hub known as the Sustenance Hope Opportunities Place. Commonly known as the SHOP, the pantry serves perishable and nonperishable food to more than 600 families each month in the Five Towns, Brooklyn and Queens. When the government shutdown occurred, Rivkah Halpern, program director at the SHOP, said many of its patrons reached out to express concerns.
“A lot of clients have no idea how they are paying bills,” Halpern said.
A 2023 United Jewish Appeal Federation study found that 6 percent of Five Towners are food insecure, as compared with 3 percent in Nassau County. The study also found that 37 percent of Five Towners are struggling to make ends meet.
“Even though plenty of people are doing well, many in this community are not,” Stacey Feldman, executive director of the JCC, said.
The increased demand for food has prompted the SHOP to ask community members for food and monetary donations.
“We are limited by our budget,” Feldman said. “The increased cost of buying wholesale food means our dollar doesn’t go as far as it once did.”
The Five Towns Early Childhood Center, at 112 Wahl Avenue in Inwood, which serves 55 children from primarily Spanish-speaking households, has also noticed increased challenges facing families in need. Pepper Robinson, the center’s executive director, said that many families are hesitant to apply for their services because of their immigration status.
“I have witnessed families that stopped their application because they’re afraid,” Robinson said. “They don’t want to be dealing with the federal government or with any program.”
While food costs have not impacted the center’s services, Robinson expressed concern over the rising cost of perishable foods. The center, which purchases items like fruits and vegetables from Cross Island Fruits in Lynbrook, pays about $400 a week for food. Robinson said she fears that families could make decisions to prioritize money over health, avoiding essentials and healthy food options.
As government costs and increasing food prices continue to shape family budgets, Halpern stressed just how daunting the changes are for families, adding that many are panicking.
“People who were used to a certain amount of aid per month are seeing their benefits halved or completely cut,” Halpern said. “Now they need to figure out whether they will pay their electric bill or put food on the table.”
When asked about the most common misconceptions concerning the needy, Mandelbaum emphasized that certain families might not be as well off as they seem.
“We have a diverse group of families that are coming every day to seek help,” he said, noting a universal need. “You can’t use appearance or what car they drive at all.”
