Some people find it difficult to believe that hunger exists on Long Island, statistically one of the most affluent regions in the world.  Yet, the visible indications of our wealth, new cars, expensive homes, etc., cover up and may even contribute to the problem of poverty and hunger here.  America's Second Harvest recently described the "faces of hunger" as "the laid off worker, the retired grandmother, the child facing a summer without school lunches."  There are thousands of people living on Long Island who cannot afford the high cost of living here and are forced to choose between paying rent and utility bills or paying for food.  Much more than just the homeless, the "faces of hunger" are also the convenience store help, the lawn cutters, the low-paid factory workers who all have jobs but are struggling with bills nonetheless.  The following article from a recent issue of our newsletter Grassroots may help to clear up some misconceptions: