As high school students in an affluent suburb, my peers and I face daily pressures primarily related to academics—grades, homework, exams, and college applications—along with social or family conflicts. We also deal with other routine challenges, like struggling to find a parking spot, rushing through short lunch breaks, and balancing our packed afternoon schedules. But, rarely, if ever, do we have to worry about where our next meal will come from.
Unbeknownst to many of us, an estimated 20% or 200,000 people in Westchester County are food insecure, defined as having limited or uncertain access to adequate food, according to the New York State Department of Health. Those facing hunger in our region come from diverse ethnic backgrounds and all age groups—children, adults, and the elderly. Some work low wage jobs, while others are unemployed or rely on social security, disability benefits, or public assistance. Many struggle to afford food after paying for rent, utilities, and medical expenses. In recent years, food insecurity has worsened due to inflation, rising housing costs, and an increasing immigrant population without the allocation of additional resources.
Scarsdale High School’s One Can Club has been making efforts to combat food insecurity for years. Together, we raise money, educate students on this pressing issue, and drive student engagement, including participation in our food drives for Bread of Life, a local non-profit food pantry with whom we are partnered. However, Bread of Life is just one of the 100+ organizations feeding people in need in Westchester.
Recently, I came across a seemingly vacant one-story building in a commercial area on Mamaroneck Avenue, close to I-95 North and just two miles from my home. Every Tuesday morning, however, the building’s silence is replaced with the sounds of crates being unloaded, tables of food being set up, and voices of the all-volunteer organization coordinating tasks. By the afternoon, the community comes together and makes up the Larchmont Mamaroneck Food Pantry (LMFP), an essential force ensuring that no one in the area is left unfed.
Last month, I had the opportunity to speak with Catherine Carney, the Vice President of the LMFP, to learn more about their operations. Their impact is remarkable. The food pantry has been providing groceries to those in need for the last 31 years. Prior to relocating to Mamaroneck Avenue three years ago, the pantry was serving an average of 347 households during each of its two monthly distributions. Since relocating, the pantry has increased the number of its food distributions to five per month (three Tuesdays and two Saturdays) and serves approximately 500 households during each distribution, an increase of 42% since 2019 and 4.7% since 2023. To put these numbers into context, the food pantry spent $637K in 2023 on food, up 200% from its pre-Covid expenses of ~$214K, representing an increase in both the number of people served and the cost of food.
The operation is a carefully coordinated effort, with every person playing a vital role in keeping it running smoothly. The building and parking lot are vacant on most days, but on distribution days, it comes to life. By 6:30 AM a truck from Feeding Westchester, a regional food bank that sells food at a discount, arrives to provide essentials such as rice, yogurt, milk, peanut butter, canned goods, pastas, and bread. The pantry also receives meat and vegetables from other sources. Every distribution day, 80+ volunteers work shifts throughout the 12-hour day, unpacking, sorting, bagging, and distributing thousands of pounds of food for the recipients. Without these volunteers, the operation would not be possible. They are a special community of individuals driven by empathy and a true desire to help those in need.
On Tuesdays, the LMFP opens its doors at 3:30 PM exclusively to Larchmont and Mamaroneck residents, while Saturdays welcome anyone in need. During these times, there is a procession of individuals along Mamaroneck Avenue, many with folding shopping carts, on their way to or from the food pantry. The need for shopping carts reflects the bountiful offerings of the food pantry. The LMFP also provides home deliveries for 80 seniors per session who are unable to make the trip themselves. LMFP is fortunate to have a list of available volunteers and a strong community of donors. While it can always use more of both, the biggest challenge it has is in offering families wholesome, varied and balanced options. It takes a lot of work and planning to deliver a wide range of fresh and nutritious options.
Whether by volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word, everyone can play a role in supporting the food pantry and the community. To learn more or get involved, visit LMFoodPantry.org. The pantry may appear ordinary on the outside, but within its building’s walls, lives are changed, one meal at a time.
