Bensonhurst food pantry relocates as it struggles to feed community
The pantry has been in the community for 30 years and they are concerned if it will last another year.
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Reaching Out Community Services says it is struggling to keep its community food pantry services going after relocating to 18th Avenue.
The executive director says the nonprofit lacked resources all year, and this move drained them even more.
“The expense for everything is unbelievable today, you know, rent and everything else. So, I don't know what we are going to do. You know, we don't even have the staff that we need to meet the needs of the people that come," said Thomas Neve, executive director.
The pantry has been in the community for 30 years and they are concerned if it will last another year.
“To help those who are going through food insecurity. And they have issues with their ability to make ends meet. So we're hoping that we can make ends meet to help those who need a helping hand," said Neve.
He tells News 12 the needs of the community are increasing, especially with the holidays coming up.
Neve says he has had to turn people away because they don't have the resources to help.
“We used to service 16 diverse ZIP codes. Now, we can only do two or three because we don’t have the support factor," said Neve.
Julio Munoz lives in the area. He says he comes to the pantry once a month for his groceries.
“Very difficult with the prices in the stores now so this, this is a blessing," said Julio Munoz, of Bensonhurst.
The executive director says he will continue to feed the community for as long as he can but is calling on local officials for assistance.
