School food pantries on Long Island helping students amid shutdown, SNAP cuts

Shortly after dismissal Thursday afternoon, educators and students at David Paterson Elementary School in Hempstead handed out Stop and Shop bags filled with canned peas, peanut butter, pasta, cereal and other items to dozens of residents.

The event marked the opening of the district's second food pantry, which educators said was in response to a growing need in the community amid the ongoing federal government shutdown and cuts to food assistance.

"A lot of people are hurting at this time," school board president Jeffrey Spencer said. "Times in this country are bad, with SNAP benefits being cut and people out of work. It’s all our responsibility, no matter what, to make sure everybody gets a meal."

The district already runs a food pantry out of Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School. Officials said "astronomical numbers" of people attended when the middle school pantry distributed food Wednesday.

Donna Raphael, the district’s community school director and family engagement coordinator, said plans had already been in the works to open a pantry at the elementary school, but they were expedited due to the urgent need in the community.

"We were unfortunately very much aware that families were going to be facing obstacles this week, and we almost wanted to get ahead of it," she said.

Hempstead is among a number of schools and colleges on Long Island that have stepped up in recent weeks to help students and families amid the government shutdown, which is the longest in U.S. history. Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, was set to halt on Nov. 1, though the Trump administration later said it would partially cover the payments.

On Thursday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to find the money to fully fund SNAP benefits for November, according to The Associated Press. The administration is appealing.

Hempstead district parent Aquila Cornwall-James, who received groceries at the food pantry Thursday, said although she isn’t impacted by the government shutdown, she has struggled with the high cost of groceries.

"At this point in time, every little bit counts," she said.

Cornwall-James said she has applied for SNAP benefits and is waiting for a response.

Linda St. John, principal of the elementary school, said the pantry has teamed up with Stop and Shop and Island Harvest to provide more food assistance.

The elementary school pantry will be open twice a month, while the middle school pantry is open Wednesday evenings. The district has also planned multiple events this month to help families, including a dinner.

Farther east in South Huntington, Walt Whitman High School Principal John Murphy said the school’s food pantry generally averaged about 25 to 35 families, but this week they served about 60 families.

"It’s steadily increased over the last couple months," he said.

The pantry is open twice a month on Wednesdays and serves a variety of items, including canned and boxed goods, peanut butter and vegetables.

"We’ve been running pretty low," Murphy said. "What would've lasted us before doesn’t last us now. We’ve been searching for other vendors or other opportunities to make sure that we have enough food for all the families that come to request it."

Higher education institutions like Adelphi University and the SUNY system are taking action as well.

Nearly 400 students at Adelphi rely on SNAP benefits, according to the university. The Garden City college has said it extended hours at its food pantry. And on Tuesday, Adelphi officials said the school received 62 gifts totaling $8,610 to help those affected by the SNAP benefit cuts. Interim President Christopher Storm said he would match all gifts up to $14,000 through Dec. 2. 

"Our Panther Pantry and Student Emergency Fund remain a lifeline for students facing unexpected financial strain," he said. "We continue raising funds and awareness to ensure our students can continue their education and thrive with the right support."

Gov. Kathy Hochul said 500 students from 45 SUNY campuses throughout New York on Friday will dedicate "at least 300 hours to engaging in paid community service" to help combat food insecurity.

"During the crisis I am proud that these students are ready to help our most vulnerable," Hochul said in a news release.

Newsday's Maura McDermott contributed to this story.