Monday, July 14, 2025
Since its official ribbon cutting in September, the Valley Stream Long Island Cares food pantry has seen a dramatic and sustained rise in service demand. What began with just a handful of individuals visiting daily has grown into a vital community hub serving hundreds each month.
The pantry served 1,148 individuals in April alone, including 280 children and 298 seniors. The surge is part of a trend that began in early 2025, with a 31.3 percent overall increase in the number of people served compared to the start of the year. Adult clients rose by 32.6 percent, children by 30.2 percent and seniors by 29.1 percent.
Since Jan. 1, over 36,000 meals have been distributed to more than 4,000 people, with April alone accounting for 10,134 meals.
“It’s been a challenge,” on-site pantry manager Lourdes Taglialatela said. “Certain shelves, we have a problem maintaining the stock on. We’re certainly feeling the trickle-down effects of all the cutbacks, but we’re trying our best to serve the community in the best way that we possibly can and do as much as we can for them.”
The pantry currently has 508 registered families, up from 194 in its early months. While not every family visits monthly, staff are noting that many who initially came in the fall and drifted away are now returning, an indication that food insecurity remains a persistent challenge.
Meeting the need has not been without obstacles. The pantry grappled with maintaining adequate stock, particularly as it awaits eligibility for additional grant support. Deliveries are carefully scheduled, and local generosity has played a key role in filling the gaps. Community members frequently donate shelf-stable items while recurring donors make shopping trips to restock high-demand goods.
Infrastructure improvements have helped expand offerings, with three freezers and two refrigerators now enabling the pantry to provide perishable essentials like dairy, meat and frozen items.
Efforts to meet growing needs extend beyond food. The Valley Stream location has cultivated partnerships with organizations such as Catholic Charities, PSEG, National Grid, Fidelis and Aetna, offering visitors support in applying for benefits, managing utility bills and accessing healthcare services.
“Everything is going up, food, medical costs, everything, it’s just everything,” Taglialatela said. “It feels like everything is spinning out of control, but we are doing the best that we can.”
While the pantry benefits from a dedicated volunteer base, gaps remain. The team recently lost two long-time volunteers and is actively seeking replacements, especially for Friday shifts. Flexible two-hour time slots are available to accommodate the village’s parking limitations and new volunteers can sign up directly through the pantry’s website.
The challenges go far beyond just logistics, according to Taglialatela. Rising food prices, reductions in SNAP benefits and skyrocketing housing costs are driving more families, including many with two incomes, to seek help.
“I just think it’s heartbreaking that people have to sit there and make a choice between whether they’re going to pay their rent or their mortgage or put food on the table for their families, and that’s a choice that nobody should have to make,” Taglialatela said. “I just think it’s a travesty that these things are, unfortunately, part of our reality today.”
Despite the challenges, the Valley Stream pantry remains a source of connection and resilience. Staff developed close ties with the families they serve, and the pantry has evolved into more than just a place to get groceries — it’s become a community in its own right.
“This community is a wonderful community,” Taglialatela shared. “They’ve been very welcoming to all of our families, they have been wonderful, and we look forward to seeing them each month, and we’re getting to know a lot of them. We’re almost becoming like a little family here, well, a big family.
“If anyone is in need, please do not hesitate to reach out to us,” she continued. “This is a safe place; here everything is kept confidential. No one will ever be judged - every person is greeted with a smile and treated with the utmost respect and dignity. We welcome you with open arms.”
With continued support from donors, volunteers and neighbors, the pantry aims to meet the rising tide of need with compassion and consistency. Non-perishable food donations and volunteer sign-ups are always welcome as the pantry continues its vital work.
For more information, visit LiCares.org.
