Long Island Cares, a food bank, conducted a study to understand food insecurity on the island. “The State of Food Insecurity on Long Island” took a demographic approach to focus on how various groups are coping with the prevailing conditions. The results show that the Hispanic/Latino population is the most food insecure on Long Island, making up more than half of the community that the food bank serves.
“This population is the most vulnerable on the Island,” Long Island Cares wrote, noting it accounts for 54 percent of the community it serves.
White people represented 21 percent of survey takers and 18 percent are black, according to the data. The data provided insight into understanding the experiences of people using the emergency food network on Long Island.
The organization surveyed more than 1,000 clients through 12 food pantries in Spanish and English to understand their clients better. That understanding will give the food bank an outline to develop programs and policies that meet the needs of the people it serves.
Long Island Cares says it was inspired by the “Hunger in America” study by Feeding America in 2014, so it worked on a Long Island-specific survey.
“Ending hunger, improving nutrition, and reducing food waste are essential objectives for Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank,” Paule Pachter, CEO of the organization, wrote. “Hunger occurs year-round, and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light health disparities and structural barriers that communities of color across Long Island are facing.”
The household income for 551 respondents is less than $25,520, while 127 of food bank clients have no income, the data shows. Fifty-three respondents’ household income is more than $50,000.
Long Island Cares also asked people why they use their food banks.
The most common answer was the cost of food, with 677 clients selecting that option. Under/unemployment (533); inflation (229); product availability (151); and other (9) came in below it.
