Additional Facts
Who are the hungry on Long Island? Take a look at these Hunger Facts put together by Long Island Cares. Then, join the fight against hunger in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, NY, and make a difference in the lives of thousands of your neighbors.
- 2.7% of all Long Islanders face food insecurity.
- Approximately 221,000 people on Long Island suffer from food insecurity– including 65,000 children
- 39% of food insecure people in Nassau County are not eligible for nutrition assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- 40% of food-insecure people in Suffolk County are not eligible for nutrition assistance programs.
- Statewide, more than 2.2M New Yorkers classify as food insecure.
- Approximately 40% of food-insecure Long Island households are above the poverty level but don’t make enough to keep up with the high cost of living in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
- Children who are hungry are more likely than their peers to experience behavioral issues, reduced ability to learn social skills and impaired cognitive learning – even permanent brain damage. Find out more about Children’s Nutrition programs available through Long Island Cares.
- 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.
- Seniors who are hungry experience depression and anxiety. They are also at increased risk for illness, disease, and even premature death.
- 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.
Resource: Feeding America