As pantries struggle to keep up with the increasing demand for food, Rockland Community Against Hunger (RCAH) and United Way of Rockland have joined together to support Rockland’s pantries. In March 2020, Rockland’s 40+ emergency food providers served 50,500 people a month compared to the 24,000 people they were serving in March 2019. In 2022, Rockland emergency food providers saw an increased need surpassing pandemic levels and served 49,000 people a month,
which is an increase of 100% since 2019.
RCAH and United Way highlighted this increased need in late February ahead of Federal benefit cuts to the SNAP program. Unsurprisingly, the need for food has increased with more pantries reporting at least 750 new clients in one month. This need is why RCAH and United Way launched a campaign to combat the crisis. Rocklanders answered the call to donate funds and the first pantry grants are being distributed at the monthly RCAH Get Fresh food distribution to local pantries from the Food Bank. First Evangelical Baptist Church and Rockland Interfaith Breakfast (a program of Helping Hands for the Homeless) are the first pantry recipients.
To donate to this campaign to combat the ongoing food crisis, visit rocklandhunger.org/donate/. Monetary donations are essential to help local food pantries and meal programs meet the rising need. Every dollar donated will go to Rockland food pantries and meal programs to purchase nutritious food.
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