Food for Thought: How SNAP Cuts Exposed Local Need–and How Our Community Can Help

BY BHAVIN BALGOBIND ’26,  ZOYA KHAN ’26, MIA SHU ’26, & ACHINT KAUR ’27

On Long Island, a reported 200,000 people rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Up until November 10, when SNAP was reinstated on a state-level, many New Yorkers were unsure of when or whether they’d be able to eat their next meal. 

SNAP is the federal program that helps low-income individuals and families buy groceries each month, providing support for households that would otherwise struggle to afford food. In communities like Jericho and the greater Long Island area, these benefits help working families, seniors, and residents facing financial hardship maintain steady access to meals; 200,000 is a number that is much greater than most people would imagine. 

Due to the recent government shutdown–the longest in American History–SNAP benefits were lost at the federal level for an unprecedented 43 long days, though some states, like New York, provided actions to reinstate sooner. In an interview with The JerEcho, New York State Congressman Tom Suozzi stated, “There have been shutdowns in the past, but [the federal government] would always provide money for SNAP, more or less.” With funding stalled in Washington, families in Jericho and the surrounding areas felt the strain, and local food pantries were pushed to take on the sudden increase in need. 

At the People Loving People pantry in Oyster Bay, Founder Valerie Monroy said the impact of SNAP cuts on the community was undeniable. “It wasn’t even 9 o’clock and we had, I think, 175 reservations for families to come in today. That’s a lot, 30 more than we usually get,” said Monroy, “Then after that, they were knocking on the door as we were starting to prepare for today, [saying], ‘I couldn’t get a reservation, can I get food? Is there any way to—’ and absolutely, we turn away no one.”

Monroy also clarified common misconceptions about SNAP and its use, specifically within the community. “People think that SNAP is just solely for food. And it’s not. People can use it for baby wipes, baby food, diapers, and baby formula. That’s what they use their SNAP benefits for,”  Monroy said. “People think all people are buying cigarettes with SNAP money. That’s not what it’s about…It’s about basic things for us, like baby wipes, that are a luxury item to people who receive those benefits.” These clarified misconceptions about SNAP reveal how essential the program is for basic needs and how its absence left many local families vulnerable. This vulnerability rippled across Long Island’s entire network of hunger-relief programs, especially Long Island Cares.

Long Island Cares is a regional food bank that provides food and support services to over 374 community-based food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and organizations on Long Island, including People Loving People. Ciara O’Brien, the food bank’s government relations and advocacy manager, said that since the SNAP cuts, she has witnessed a new influx of people requiring food assistance. At their recent emergency distribution, Long Island Cares served nearly 20 federal workers, many of whom had never set foot in a pantry before. These were people who would have never imagined needing SNAP, but due to the government shutdown, needed assistance in bringing food home. “SNAP is like a lifeline for a lot of families,” said O’Brien. “It’s the way that they put food on their table for their children.”

Long Island Cares has been fielding more daily calls from anxious Long Islanders who can no longer afford basic groceries. O’Brien described the community’s need as “immediate, growing, and deeply human,” a sign of how vital SNAP is for families across the region. 

O’Brien addressed a common and dangerous misconception about Long Island that leads to bystanding in times of crisis: “I think a lot of people maybe would look at Long Island and say, wow, there’re so many, you know, wealthy neighborhoods and so you don’t think that hunger and food and security can impact these communities.” But O’Brien warns of the reality, which she and many have witnessed over the past two months: “Hunger and food insecurity can impact anyone. It can impact any community.”

Oftentimes, Jericho is one of those places that gets overlooked. Yet, like O’Brien warned, food insecurity does, in fact, impact Jericho. Jericho High School Social Worker Mr. Ray Velez said, “We do have a population of students who get free and reduced lunch. The free and reduced lunch income standards are very similar to what would make a family eligible for SNAP.”

The first step to support, according to Velez, O’Brien, and Monroy, is becoming aware of the issue and then spreading awareness. “I think it’s essential for people who are not impacted by it to be able to speak up, because that’s really where you start to see the change,” said Mr. Velez. “You know, just to make [people] aware that this is a community problem.” 

If you are in the position to volunteer resources, then donations in the form of nonperishable items are always welcome at these food banks and pantries. O’Brien said, “We’re always looking for more resources, you know, as a food bank providing to so many Long Islanders, specifically during the holiday season, we’re always looking for more resources, more donations.”

Monroy expressed that any support is welcome, especially at a pantry like People Loving People, where people in need replicate the shopping experience as “clients” accessing resources they might need for a meal with dignity. Monroy said, “We need volunteer support because, you know, it takes a lot of people to pull off  an operation like this.” She reiterated that any support is welcome. “We need people to support us however they can, doing a food drive, standing outside of a Stop & Shop, doing a food collection, just spreading the word about what we do. And hopefully people want to help and, you know, [helping] gets contagious.”

At People Loving People, the community shows up to support one another every Thursday during “shopping” hours. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s Men’s Basketball Team is a staple during these weekly events. Aaron Zalescik, a player on the team, said, “I think it’s been really impactful [us] being here, seeing the faces, [the community] seeing that we actually care.” Between high-fiving regular clients to helping them shop, the pantry is full of love and mutual respect, and the volunteers gain as much as the clients through these evenings. “People really need our help, and we’re just glad to be here,” said Zalescik.

Monroy reflected on how the pantry is not just a space for resource transactions, but is also a space for all parties to grow, while building community. Some “clients” at People Loving People are now also volunteering their time to help others in the pantry. Monroy also pointed to multiple volunteers within the pantry, explaining how they give their time in any way that they can to support their community: helping clients learn English, teaching clients to ride bikes, mopping the floors after work, and breaking down boxes. 

As Monroy and O’Brien said, any bit helps, especially in this time of need. To echo the work of those interviewed, The JerEcho is spreading awareness about how to help out this holiday season. The JerEcho, The National Honor Society, and Open Horizons are hosting a collaborative food drive from November 24-November 26. Donations will be given to the People Loving People food pantry. Boxes will be left at both the High School front circle and High School attendance entrance for any non-perishable donations of breakfast foods, canned goods, or baby products. 

The JRRS PTA and JHS PTSA are also hosting a Thanksgiving Food Drive for Nosh! Delivers of Glen Cove from November 10-21. Drop off bins can be found at JRRS and outside of the High School cafeteria. 

As the future of programs like SNAP continue to face uncertainty, sustained awareness remains essential to helping address ongoing food insecurity. Amidst the uncertainty, one thing is clear: the Jericho community continues to lead with action to help support one another.