The faces of hunger on Long Island have changed dramatically in recent years. Many pantries and soup kitchens are seeing more people who, years after the start of the “Great Recession”, are still unemployed or underemployed. Economically strapped Long Islanders are being joined by veterans, seniors, the disabled, and those trying desperately to hold on to their homes and remain on Long Island.

The stereotype that people receiving food stamps earn less than $22,000 a year is simply not an economic reality. Families earning more than three times that are among working poor people on Long Island. Federal cuts to the food stamp benefit program have only worsened the hardship. Since the initial cuts, local pantries have cited an increase of between 10 percent and 25 percent in the number of people seeking help. Food banks across the country that have historically provided emergency food assistance, are now providing more ongoing food and supplies, trying to keep families fed while assistance levels decrease. With more than 320,000 Long Islanders — including 118,000 children — in need of food assistance, the burden continues to grow.

The economy is still forcing many to make difficult choices, as people with limited incomes continue to struggle on Long Island. L.I. Cares is on the front lines everyday battling to break the cycle of poverty and improve conditions for our growing number of working poor people.

The organization has put together a list of eye-opening statistics concerning the startling hunger problems facing Long Island. Here are some of the disturbing findings:

• Nearly 285,000 people on Long Island receive emergency food each year – about 65,000 people every week.
• 74% of the Long Island households served by emergency food programs such as those of L. I. Cares are food insecure.
• 39% of Long Islanders who receive emergency food are children under 18 years old— among the largest single population of hungry.
• Children who are hungry are more likely to experience behavioral issues, impaired cognitive learning – even permanent brain damage.
• Approximately 70% of those who are hungry on Long Island are from minority populations who face education, language and employment barriers.
• 48% of those receiving emergency food assistance are the “working poor”— households that include at least one employed adult. Of these, 63% have monthly incomes below the federal poverty level— often having to choose between paying the rent or utilities and paying for food.
• The effects of hunger on the working poor range from lack of stamina and increased illness – which increases missed work time – to feelings of hopelessness and despair.
• The elderly make up 4% of Long Island’s hungry. Seniors are among
  the hungry for many reasons, including not having enough income to afford nutritious food, suffering from depression and loneliness or experiencing the side effects from multiple medications, which can decrease the desire to eat.
• Seniors who are hungry experience depression and anxiety.  They are also at increased risk for illness, disease, and even premature death.
• About 6 percent of Long Islanders receiving food assistance are homeless and are made up of individuals who are the victims of abuse or have been forced out of closed institutions.
• Many of these individuals are also mentally, physically, emotionally or socially disabled, and face limited employment opportunities, additional barriers and/or may have difficulty feeding themselves.
• Food banks are by far the single most important source of food for agencies with emergency food providers, accounting for 69% of the food distributed by pantries, 39% of the food distributed by kitchens and 45% of the food distributed by shelters.

Log onto www.licares.org to learn more about the local fight against hunger, and how you can make a difference in the lives of your neighbors.

You’re probably aware of a number of charitable organizations that rely on vehicle donation to bolster fundraising and further their causes— each of them worthy of your generosity. But remember that the majority of these causes are directed toward national charities. Donation Processors Alliance is a dedicated resource focused specifically on a regional charity— L.I. Cares. Every penny gleaned from the donation of your vehicle benefits “Wheels for Meals”, and feeds a hungry Long Island family suffering through tough times… and often living closer than you think. Your generosity directly serves your neighbors.

 

Our relationship with L.I. Cares goes back over twenty years. Our benefits are reciprocal, and the mutual respect runs deep. Supplying food to thousands of Long Islanders on a daily basis is a struggle. Funding is scarce, and every dollar has to be stretched. DPA has an uncanny ability to make the most out of every vehicle donated to our cause. Experience tells us that there’s greater value hidden in those beat up old clunkers— if you know where to look for it. How do we get the most return from a donated vehicle? Do we scrap it, salvage it, or repair it for sale or auction? DPA often taps into several low-cost repair resources to build equity in a car’s value. Then we weigh our options for the best sales channel— either direct to consumer, through auction services, or even online. Our knack for quickly turning useless wrecks into usable checks allows us to maximize the efforts of L.I. Cares. And that makes all the difference.

 

Our appreciation for the generosity of donors is boundless. That’s why we bend over backwards to streamline the process for you, retrieve the biggest tax deduction we can get, and keep a dialogue ongoing throughout the transaction. Our dedicated team handles all the paperwork, vehicle transport, storage, and sales with skill and efficiency. We’ve made a lot of close associations and great friendships over the years. You can meet them, and hear their stories by visiting our donor gallery on this site. Check it out. And consider joining our gallery honorees one day with your own donation.