Funding shortage forces food pantry to turn away hungry families
A Bensonhurst-based organization that has provided food and social service referrals to people in need for nearly 30 years has had to turn away hungry families due to a shortage of funds, according to the group’s founder, Tom Neve.
Neve, the executive director of Reaching-Out, said he is seeing an increase in people coming to his office for help, despite statistics showing a strong U.S. economy. Reaching-Out, which sponsors a food pantry and helps clients apply for government programs, operates out of a space at 7708 New Utrecht Ave.
The dramatic increase in requests for assistance, coupled with stagnant funding from government and private sources, is causing big trouble for Reaching-Out, according to Neve.