Equitable Food Access:

An assessment of racial and cultural food barriers on Long Island

Presented by

Dr. Jessica Rosati Vice-President for Programs

Ana Penavi´ c Research Assistant

Funded by a generous grant from

Long Island Cares, Inc. was awarded a grant of $160,000 by Feeding America, to ensure equitable food access and to reduce food access barriers for communities of color, and/or disadvantaged communities that have specific dietary restrictions.

This grant is comprised of three components that directly address these goals:

1. To better understand the needs of the identified at-risk populations, Long Island Cares, Inc. implemented a qualitative action research project. A series of focus groups and individual interviews were conducted, identifying and addressing racial disparities and access to nutritious food amongst three disadvantaged communities that have specific dietary restrictions. The data collected is being used to develop the 2023 objectives of Long Island Cares, Inc., to eliminate barriers to access nutritious food, and to further strengthen our network of partners.

The three communities identified were:

n Wyandanch Community – racial and economic barriers

n Jewish Dietary Law – Kosher

n Islamic Dietary Law – Halal

2. The second part of this grant was allocated to purchase culturally friendly foods that were distributed to the agencies identified under this grant.

3. The third portion was distributed in re-grants to our agencies serving the populations identified.

We identified these communities due to several factors: although Long Island is only two counties, a 2002 study by the nonprofit ERASE Racism found that Suffolk and Nassau counties on Long Island are one of the most racially segregated suburbs in the country. Additionally, Asian population growth has helped fuel demographic shifts in Jericho and Hicksville in Nassau County that has made them majority-minority communities in the town of Oyster Bay – attributing to Muslim population growth on the Island (U.S. Census, 2021a). Furthermore, according to the Public Religion Research Institute’s (PRRI) 2020 Census on American Religion, the Jewish population in Nassau and Suffolk counties is about 200,000 individuals, and yet we have only four Kosher member-agency pantries. As such, there is an increasing demand for culturally friendly products, and in decreasing racial and economic food access disparities.

As the regional food bank for Long Island, we have an ethical responsibility to ensure every Long Islander in need has equal access to emergency food and supplies. Our mission, and the values our staff uphold, is for the betterment of all Long Islanders. We are grateful for the support of Feeding America, and we remain committed to working alongside them with the goal of a hunger-free America.

A Message from our President & CEO

I’m very pleased to share our latest research report, Equitable Food Access: An assessment of racial and cultural food barriers on Long Island. When Long Island Cares, Inc. reviewed the cultural composition of the more than 10,000 people who visited our six community-based satellite food bank centers to access emergency food in 2022, it revealed that 74% of the population are people of color. The need for food banks to address cultural and racial diversity among the populations in need is important if we are to treat those in need respectfully and appropriately when it comes to nutrition and dietary choices. Long Island Cares is proud to have received a grant from Feeding America that allowed us to embark on this study to gauge the choices of our neighbors in need of emergency food assistance that responds to their preferences for kosher, halal and other culturally preferred foods. The results of our study that was designed and implemented by Jessica Rosati, PhD, Vice President for Programs and Ana Penavic, Research Assistant, are quite revealing and provide a roadmap for food banks to follow in responding to the dietary needs of our diverse populations. It also provides guidance for our network of more than 300 local food pantries, soup kitchens and other programs that respond to food insecurity in Nassau and Suffolk County. Over the past 60 years, Long Island has become a melting pot for various cultural populations. While the Hispanic or Latin American population is becoming the largest growing cultural group in our region, we are also seeing increases in the Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, Native American, Central American and African American communities. When these populations face poverty and food insecurity far above the Caucasian population, we must consider their specific needs through a different approach, which this report discusses at length and backs up with real data and concrete recommendations. While this report might be the beginning of our work, the results challenge us to move forward in considering diversity, equity and inclusion as we feed those in need.

Paule T. Pachter, ACSW, LMSW President & Chief Executive Officer, Long Island Cares, Inc.

Methods

Data Collection

In qualitative research, data is collected until a saturation of information is received and themes begin to emerge.

For this action research project, data was collected by the following means:

Recruitment

Participants were recruited through engaging partner agencies, community champions, and clientele to participate in our action research project. We began our outreach in Wyandanch through an introduction letter sent out to partner agencies. The platform, Qualtrics (https://www.qualtrics.com/), was used for collecting interested parties contact information. Snowball recruitment subsequently occurred from the sharing of the Qualtrics survey from our social media and through word of mouth from business letters. The research assistant also canvassed clientele at participating agencies. Outreach for Kosher and Halal focus groups was conducted with a recruitment flyer disseminated through social media, and to places of worship (as pictured), along with a similar method of snowball recruitment and in-person canvassing at participating partner agencies. This process occurred during the months of March to June.

One-on-one interviews and focus groups were scheduled from April through July, with people identified from the recruitment process. These interviews and focus groups were conducted to better understand the community needs of the three groups identified and to compile a thorough community needs assessment addressing barriers to accessing nutritious food through the food bank/food pantry system. One-on-one interviews were conducted to ensure the anonymity and comfort of the interviewees, or if they were unable to attend a set focus group time. Focus group participants were paired in groups of similar background to mitigate bias of information shared, i.e., one Wyandanch Focus Group was comprised of Long Island Cares, Inc. partner agencies, members and leaders of non-profit organizations based in Wyandanch. Another Wyandanch Focus Group was comprised of clientele only.

“We are proud to work alongside communities facing hunger and grantees as they innovate and overcome barriers to food access in their communities. Addressing root causes is a critical step to improve food insecurity and ensure every community has access to the food and resources they need to thrive.”

—Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO, Feeding America

Glossary of terms

Halal – what is permissible in the Muslim faith–in terms of this study, it means what a Muslim can eat. Haram – what is forbidden in the Muslim faith–in terms of this study, it means what a Muslim cannot eat. For example, pork is for forbidden to eat, and alcohol to drink.

Zabiha Halal – the prescribed method of slaughter for Halal meat.

Zakat – a form of almsgiving. One of the core practices of Islam. Kosher/Kashrut – a set of dietary laws dealing with the Jewish faith, i.e., what is fit for consumption.

Treif – similar to Haram, it is food that is forbidden under Jewish dietary law, i.e.; what is not fit for consumption.

Hechsher – a rabbinical product certification confirming food as Kosher.

All participants were compensated for their time. Each participant at the close of the interview/focus group received a $50 Visa gift card to use at their discretion.

All interviews and focus groups were recorded. Compiled audio files were inputted into Otter (https://otter.ai/), a transcribing software. The research assistant then verified the transcription against the audio and corrected inconsistencies.

In summation

A total of 68 people participated in this action research project. Researchers conducted eight individual interviews comprised of six clients, one pantry volunteer, and one community leader. Ten focus groups were conducted for a total of 60 interviewees. The participant composition of the focus groups included: 14 community leaders, 21 pantry participants/ clients, 13 providers/ member agencies, and 12 volunteers.

12 Volunteers

1 Community Leaders/Member

1 Volunteer

6 Clients

14 Community Leaders/Members

8 Individual interviews (12%)

60 Focus Group (88%)

Participant Breakdown

13 Providers

21 Clients

Figure 1 total participant breakdown from focus groups/individual interviews

Wyandanch

Wyandanch is a suburban hamlet on the south shore of Long Island plagued by social injustice. Recalling a 2002 study conducted by the nonprofit ERASE Racism, Suffolk and Nassau counties on Long Island are the most racially segregated suburbs in the country. In conjunction with this data, Black Americans make up more than 60% of the hamlet census, with Hispanic/ Latinx at 35%. The total population of Suffolk County Black Americans is only a nine percent minority (U.S. Census, 2021b).

Town of Babylon reports that 12,990 residents live in Wyandanch, with the average household size at 3.17 persons per household. The median family income is also reported as $59,076 for Wyandanch residents, with 24.5% of this population living below the poverty guideline. The federal income guidelines, according to Department of Health of NYS, is $42,606 for a family of three (2022).

As such, the systemic issues that citizens of this hamlet are prevailing through are in conjunction with the racial injustices that plague Long Island.

Currently, Long Island Cares, Inc. contracts with twelve emergency food providers that service the hard-working Wyandanch community:

n Fellowship Baptist Wyandanch

n Gerald Ryan Outreach

n God’s Provision

n Loaves and Fishes

n Long Island Cares, Inc.— The Harry Chapin Food Bank and Humanitarian Center

n Mercy Soup Kitchen

n Resurrection House of Wyandanch

n Salvation and Deliverance

n Way of Life COGIC

n Well Life Network

n Wyandanch Church of God

n COGOP Community Pantry

Through this grant, we were able to re-gift grants to food providers to reduce barriers in accessing food. It also permitted providers to increase their capacity to distribute culturally friendly foods.

Eight Wyandanch food providers received $37,540.90 in re-grants to increase capacity. Each provider completed an application for financial support that was reviewed by a team of Long Island Cares, Inc. staff, and was then awarded based upon need and ability to increase capacity.

Each provider also received 11 $50 Visa gift cards to either purchase additional food or supplies and/or to re-distribute, at their discretion, to participants in need with specific dietary restrictions.

For the research portion, we conducted four focus groups, and had one individual interview for a total of 35 participants.

8 Community Leaders/Members (23%)

8 Volunteers (23%)

4 Providers (11%)

15 Clients (43%)

Figure 2 Wyandanch participant breakdown

Wyandanch Statistics

The need for culturally friendly foods and access to emergency food and supplies increased dramatically in 2022. The increased need is a direct result of inflation and a rise in the cost of goods.

The New York State Education Department reports that 100% of children (2,784) attending the Wyandanch Union Free School District are eligible for free breakfast and lunch (2021).

From January 2022 through October 2022, our Wyandanch emergency food providers reported the following: 16,890 households, totaling 94,957 people, were provided 854,613 meals.

Kosher

Long Island has a rich Jewish history spanning more than 300 years. The middle of the 19th Century saw an increased immigration of Jewish families to Long Island, which stimulated the labor market and the production of goods and services (Koldodny, 2019). At present, there are more than 200,000 Jewish Long Islanders (PRRI 2020 Census), with 219 active synagogues. The majority of synagogues are in Nassau County with 166 locations; 53 synagogues are located in Suffolk County. The rich history of Judaism accounts for “so many laws, customs and topics of Jewish interest that are subject to interpretation and open to debate,” which pertains to the focus of our study in relation to Kosher dietary law (Koldodny, 2019).

Kosher dietary law, or “Kashrut,” is a set of laws documented in the Torah that states what proper foods can be consumed. Specifically, Kosher animals, according to Lopez Cardozo, can be identified by two simanim (physical signs): (1) “they must chew their cud,” and (2) “their hooves must be wholly cloven” (2016). These guidelines were created for the safety of the person eating them. These statements hold true among the providers contracted with Long Island Cares, Inc., and what was reported during the Kosher-specific focus groups.

Consuming Kosher food while food insecure raises significant challenges. Low availability, higher prices, and culinary restraints make Kosher observance difficult to abide by (Bergeaud-Blackler et al., 2013).

For many Kosher-observant Long Islanders, the need to procure certified Kosher product means the food they acquire has been verified by a rabbinic agency that confirms the products were produced without non-Kosher substances. There are multiple Kosher symbols (Hechshers) printed on food items to confirm Kosher certification. In the U.S., the five largest Kosher certification agencies, collectively known as the “Big Five,” are (listed in alphabetical order): Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc), KOF-K Kosher Certification (Kof-K), OK Kosher Certification (OK), Orthodox Union Kosher (OU), STAR-K Kosher Certification (Star-K) (Lytton, 2013).

Although much of our contracted food providers serve different clientele, there are only three sole Kosher food providers and one partially Kosher-observant food provider currently contracted with Long Island Cares, Inc. Two of the four providers were awarded re-grants totaling $12,510 to reduce barriers in accessing food, and for providers to increase capacity to distribute culturally friendly foods to participants in need. The four pantries are:

n Hatizlu

n JCC of the Greater Five Towns

n UMJCA Kosher Food Pantry

n Gammy’s Pantry

As with the Wyandanch providers, Kosher providers completed an application for financial support that was then reviewed by a team of Long Island Cares, Inc. staff. Subsequently, they were awarded funds based upon need and their ability to reduce barriers for clients to receive culturally friendly foods.

All four providers received 11 $50 Visa gift cards to either purchase additional food or supplies, and/or to re-distribute, at their discretion, to participants in need.

For the research portion, we conducted three focus groups, and four individual interviews, for a total of 22 participants.

Kosher Statistics

Long Island Cares, Inc. supports two Kosher pantries in the Lawrence Union Free School District. The New York State Education Department reports that 89% of children (3,512) attending the Lawrence Union Free School District, are eligible for free breakfast and lunch, and 78% (2,739) of children are eligible for reduced breakfast and lunch (2022).

From January 2022 through October 2022, our Kosher emergency food providers reported the following: 16,270 households, totaling 53,616 people, were provided 482,544 meals.

5

10

7 Providers (32%)

Volunteers (23%)

Clients (45%)

Figure 4 Kosher participant breakdown

Figure 3 Four Hechshers from the “Big Five” certification agencies. OU (Wikimedia Commons 2007), OK (Wikimedia Commons, 2021), Star-K (Wikimedia Commons, n.d.) are public domain images. Kof-K is licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0 (LazarWeisz, 2017)

Halal

Similar to the Torah, the Quran prescribes a set of dietary restrictions, a.k.a. Islamic dietary law. The guidelines distinguish between Halal (what is permitted) and Haram (what is prohibited). In general, Halal and Haram do not only refer to foods, but can also be used in relation to permissible banking, for example. However, there is a distinction for Halal meat called zabiha Halal. This means meat is slaughtered the least painful way possible with a Quranic passage recited prior to slaughter. Haram food primarily means not eating pork or porkderived products.

For Long Islanders faced with Halal food insecurity, the need to acquire Halal-certified products is challenging. One of our participants stated they used Zabihah.com as a guide to know where they can acquire Halal food. Even if Halal food access is increasing on the Island, the increasing price tag is a definitive barrier for many.

Emergency food providers contracted by Long Island Cares, Inc. report increasing participant requests for Halal products, but not by large numbers.

One of the Pillars of Islam, Zakat (almsgiving), correlates with this need. Muslims donate a fixed portion of their income to community members in need. We found that through our research there are several privately funded pantries located at Long Island mosques/masjids. Therefore, the need for Halal foods is currently being provided for by personal donations from the Islamic community.

For the research portion, we conducted three focus groups, and three individual interviews, for a total of 11 participants. See chart for breakdown of participants.

Halal Statistics

According to the PRRI 2020 Census, there are currently 41,910 Muslims on Long Island. Additionally, according to the Muslim American National Opinion Survey (MANOS) Summary Statistic, 66% of Muslims are second or third generation Americans.

At present, Long Island Cares, Inc. does not partner with Halal-specific food pantries. However, Pronto, a memberagency located in Bay Shore, has an exclusive Halal meat freezer which was donated by the Progressive American Community Empowerment group in 2021 (Newsday, 2021). We currently contract with this organization, but Halal meat is not always available for clients. There is a definitive need for Halal products in the emergency food network.

7

(64%)

2 Clients (18%)

2 Providers (18%)

Figure 5 Halal certification symbol

Figure 6 Halal participant breakdown

Community Leaders/Members

Data Analysis

Thematic framework analysis was conducted in an effort to identify themes by use of coding, charting and interpretation.

Analysis was conducted by the researchers at Long Island Cares, Inc. through Dedoose (https:// www.dedoose.com/), a web-based application used to codify and track themes throughout the focus groups.

There are several main themes that were shared throughout the three groups with a breakdown and discussion of other main themes following for each respective group:

Repeated Themes Among All Three Groups

n Inadequate/Ineffective Government Programs (SNAP)

n Inflation/Cost of Food

n Lack of healthy, culturally specific and vegetarian food options

n Outreach

n Populations most in need: Seniors, Single Moms

n Stigma/Pride/Dignity

n Supportive Community

n Transportation/Delivery Method

“Action research has repeatedly demonstrated how it can facilitate problem-solving and change in many settings through a process of collaboration which is driven by the community at the heart of the research.”

(Gelling & Munn-Giddings, p.100, 2011).

Wyandanch Themes

Utilizing Dedoose, the data yielded 73 codes of themes. The specific themes listed here have an occurrence of eight or more times in all Wyandanch-specific individual interviews/focus groups (FG). The highest occurrence was applied 38 times for the “outreach” theme. Listed below are the themes with subsequent quotes:

Themes

Wyandanch FG2 Speaker 3: “When they first opened…in Wyandanch. That was the cheap[est]. Of course, we all ran in it. I don't know what happened, but the prices—my poor child she went in there; she's like Ma like (shaking her head). You know, you spent $47, and you got like what three items?…I don't care whether they took food stamps or vouchers.”

Wyandanch FG2 Speaker 7: “Basically my family has been in Wyandanch a long time. I started going to this pantry with my mother, she has now gone…But it's life, it’s what happens. And [my mom] basically used to go and take me and my sister when we was young and sit down and talk to her friends. And that's how she communicated and socialized with people. And just, we've been going there, like, periodically just on and off. And now I'll just go there because I cannot afford every meal there is.”

Wyandanch FG4 Speaker 6: “Half of these people are holding onto their houses by the skin on their bodies. So, you know, it's a sad reality, but that's what I feel like is going on and it's gonna be crazy. So, I feel like they're trying to like fade it out so there won't really be any programs accessible to the people out here that really need it. So, you're gonna have to like do your research and really stay aware of what's going on to get the best for you and your family being out here in my opinion…I feel like that like those apartments right up the road is a perfect example. It's like, okay, who did you really make that affordable for?”

Wyandanch FG2 Speaker 4: “One mistake I made when I retired, I quickly found out that the bills don't retire”

in/accessible pantry hours

Wyandanch FG4 Speaker 3: “Every time I knew it was inevitable and that I was gonna have to become homeless again. I did the most responsible thing I could, and I checked online for all the resources available. One-third of the time, the resources were no longer there. Their number—Their phone numbers just didn't work.”

lack of healthy food options

Wyandanch FG1 Speaker 4: “[Inflation] is killing me. Okay, it's killing me because food shopping. I used to be able to go in the store and spend like a good 280 and be alright, but now, I go in the store. I'm spending 500.”

Wyandanch FG1 Speaker 4: Listen to the amount of money you're spending for families to be in a shelter. Why not give somebody that money to start their life? Maybe you wouldn't have so many families that are on public assistance. Because let me tell you, son, DSS is not designed to get you going and get you off. That system is designed to keep you on that system.”

Wyandanch FG1 Speaker 1: “[Welfare] will pay you $1,000 a month for you to live in hotels, but they won't give you $800 for your own house.”

Themes

lack of

Wyandanch FG4 Speaker 3: “Have you ever tried to call the number on the bus signs? The 825 number? [crosstalk] 852?

Don't bother. Theythey haven't picked up in 20 years. I'm not-I'm not joking. They never pick up, so you're right. The same problems are always there, but I think it's just a matter of some people just simply not doing their jobs. Simply not doing everything.”

Themes

Wyandanch FG1

Speaker 4: “But, I mean if you're starting anywhere, start in the schools because there's a lot of kids that are hungry they can't wait till Monday morning to go to school to get something to eat, and so if you start anywhere start in the schools.”

Speaker 5: “Because if you don't have something in your belly you cannot learn.” [murmurs of agreement]

Speaker 1: “You can't think when you're hungry, you know?”

Speaker 4: “They wonder why they have so many children that are going into special education. Not all the time a child is a, you know, a problem child or they have a learning disability. Sometimes they just can't focus because they're wondering when are they gonna eat?”

wealth inequality

Wyandanch FG1 Speaker 1: “I would like the children to have clean food and dietary-efficient food. I would like to mothers to be able to take care of their kids because it's a separation between rich and poor, and the rich getting richer and the poor is getting poor but if we could bring the poor up a little bit, then they will, they'll be more stable and they'll see a progress in life.”

Wyandanch FG4 Speaker 6: “[People] hear Long Island [and they] have this misconception, like as soon as you come to Long Island, ‘Oh you got money.’ No, come look at every—All of these towns, don't think about East Setauket. Don't think about the Hamptons and Bayville. Think about the other towns like Bellport and Rocky Point.”

prejudice from pantries pride/stigma/ dignity racism requested items and/or items not wanted safety (lack of) school system lacking supportive community

housing

lack of infrastructure lack of transportation lack of vegetarian/vegan food options lack of youth opportunities

medical barriers

meal preparation/ clients sometimes don't know what to prepare for with food items from pantries

pantries can't keep up with demand/too busy populations most in need: seniors and single moms

outreach (effective and ineffective)

Kosher Themes

Utilizing Dedoose, the data yielded 75 codes of themes. The specific themes listed here have an occurrence of eight or more times in all Kosher-specific individual interviews/focus groups (FG). The highest occurrence was applied 47 times for the theme of “different Kosher certified symbols and/or level of Kashrut authorization followed.” Listed below are the themes with subsequent quotes:

Themes

delivery method as a discreet method

different

Kosher certified symbols and/or level of Kashrut authorization followed

differing needs based upon family size

embarrassment

fresh food highly request

healthy food highly requested

in/accessibility of Kosher food at pantries

inadequate/ineffective governmental programs

inflation/cost of food

Kosher organizations rely heavily on volunteers

Kosher protein requested lack of transportation

lack of vegetarian/vegan food options

lack of youth opportunities

Kosher Individual Interview 2: “A lot of times the problem with certain hechshers is that they, they don't trust the particular rabbi that gives the hechsher out. Where it came from, certain ingredients, such as gelatin. Is it really Kosher? Or can it really ever be Kosher? There's so many things involved with it as to whether it's acceptable or not, it's everybody's different opinion .... The biggest part of the problem is when it comes to meat, because it's gotten, first of all the expenses is ridiculous. I pass over it, forget about it.”

Kosher Individual Interview 3: “I mean, in Brooklyn there's a tremendous amount of competition. So, you do have—Yeah, so you have the supermarkets that are more affordable than the other. But you know, living here on Long Island for the last 12 years, I definitely noticed a difference. I don't know that Stop & Shop would be less, in terms of a pack of Kosher chicken. Kosher meat, Kosher fish, Kosher chicken is expensive across the board. But if I'm going to go [Gourmet] Glatt, are they jacking up prices? That's because everything, even a tomato, is going to be more than if I was going to Stop & Shop.”

Kosher FG3

Speaker 4: “Most of our clients will only eat Glatt Kosher…We won’t give out Hebrew National… so only Empire or we work with local butchers in the area.”

Kosher FG2 Speaker 6: “I was able to get fish through the pantry, it was like heaven for me…It was salmon and it was like heaven for me. For a week, for a full week, I was able to do it, but the thing is, it's out of… what my husband and I get, in terms of social security—on our budget, because that's it for us. The two social securities, that's it.”

Themes

medical barriers

monetary relief offered at pantries and/or requested

Orthodox Jewish population in need

outreach (effective and ineffective) prejudice from pantries

pride/stigma/dignity

Kosher FG2 Speaker 6: “For about two or three years [because of COVID-19], I didn't even go out of my house, my husband and I weren't going out because both of us with the heart condition and my husband has diabetes and the heart condition. We have barely been out. So, the—I have to tell you, the people in the pantry have been awesome. We could not have made it without them.”

Kosher FG3 Speaker 4: “What I'm gonna start doing is community outreach. So that's really going to some of the local high schools and some of the local temples and churches and really letting them know, you know, what it is that we do, how we can help, how people can access our services. Um, right now it'sit's a lot of word of mouth. We do have partnerships with some temples and rabbis will refer people, but there really is that stigma, especially within this community, because we are located in a very affluent community.”

Kosher Individual Interview 2: “And you know, you don't want people to know that you're on social services. That's like the worst thing in the world. I know the first time I went down there, it was like, it was culture shock. It was totally culture shock to me. I never thought I would be, I was embarrassed. And it was something I never thought I'd be in that position in a million years. I was brought up in a fairly well-off, a very, very wealthy neighborhood. I was brought up—my family. My, both my parents work, but my father was a fairly successful individual. So what did I do wrong? You know, and it's like, that was the worst feeling of failure.”

population most in need: seniors

populations most in need: single moms

supportive community or lack thereof

synagogue involvement or lack thereof

wealth inequality

Kosher FG1 Speaker 1: “The first client that I was assigned was an elderly woman. And more than the food, she was looking for companionship. So, my wife and I would make a full delivery about once a month, maybe a little more often. And we would—she would have us into her home, so her apartment, and we would sit and talk with her for a while. She was lonely. She lived by herself and we spent, you know, about an hour when we would come and visit her.”

Kosher FG2 Speaker 2: “I went to try to get food stamps and they okayed me…I have a 25-year-old son who's on social security disability. And, of course, myself on social security disability, then I have another son who is in school. So, they gave me $75, which was like a godsend, [per] month…It was something I didn't have.”

Kosher FG2 Speaker 1: “[My friend and I] were talking about [how] all around us, in the town, people are putting on additions, you know, they’re doing all this work on their on their homes, new cars. And you say, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ It's like, where's all this money coming from?...‘What are we doing wrong?’ You know—you know, cause I was once up here, you know, with the VP job and whatnot. And now I'm in this situation, you know, I don't know where my next meal's coming from.”

Halal Themes

Utilizing Dedoose, the data yielded 88 codes of themes. The specific themes listed here have an occurrence of five or more times in all Halal-specific individual interviews/focus groups (FG). The highest occurrence was applied 18 times for the theme “Halal meat requested.” Listed below are the themes with subsequent quotes:

Themes

coronavirus impact on increasing food insecurity

delivery method as option for households

discretion preferred if food insecure

domestic abuse contributing to food insecurity

Halal FG2 Speaker 2: “A lot of the mosques in Long Island, they have their own like, food bank sort of thing. And they also care that a lot of people, they might not wanna show that they are in need for anything. So, they have a system that is very like secretly and, you know, confidentially, they provide things to the families who are in need actually.”

Halal Individual Interview 2: “I just want, especially the community I'm from, I'm trying to keep it confidential…It’s a very educating experience since December, I have to say, because I never knew that out of my bubble [that] there's like [another] family [that needs help] too.”

immigrant status vs. child of immigrant

Halal FG1 Speaker 3: “The Muslim community for the longest time has been a very immigrant-[heavy] community. So, they don't know that these [pantries/programs] exist. That's changing now because now 54.6% of Muslims are actually born in the United States. So, things are changing.”

inadequate/ineffective governmental programs

Halal Individual Interview 2: “Back in December when my food stamps balance had come down because my to-be-ex had paid the child support. And then SNAP benefits like DSS filed this as income. And even though, you know, I have other very high expenses. When I talked to the caseworker, they said they said that they don't come down with the numbers.”

inflation/cost of food

Halal Individual Interview 2: “What takes up my SNAP food card now, [it] looks like the majority of it goes to, you know, to buy the meat. Meat itself is expensive in general, but Halal meat is, you know, it's just, it's always been a little more expensive.”

Themes Themes

lack of employment

lack of transportation

lack of vegetarian/vegan product available

Muslim population increasing on LI

mosque pantries as support network

non-Halal food pantry receiving outside support from Muslim organizations

non-Halal pantry usage as opposed to mosque pantry usage outreach (effective/ ineffective) populations most in need: single moms

Halal FG2 Speaker 1: “I still feel more comfortable going to a mosque because I'm like, ‘Oh, they obviously know about halal already.’ I don't need to feel you know like, ‘Oh, do they know this?’ and everything. Because obviously, growing up like I said, I've been born and raised on Long Island as well. And that's the biggest thing is, like people don't know about our culture. You know, slowly, slowly as we've gotten—as Long Island has gotten more diverse and as my high schooling community has gotten more diverse—you know it's just that people don't know still to this day and everything like that. So, I would be like, ‘Oh, do they know it all?’”

pride/stigma/ dignity racism requested items and/or items not wanted school food not Halal and/or culturally friendly seek help outside community supermarket/ shopping: where Muslims shop supportive community

zabiha Halal Zakat “almsgiving”

Halal FG3 Speaker 1: “A Muslim family who immigrated to United States and they came to a land of opportunity, the way they're going to be a president of America. That's the mindset where the children gonna go to GW or Harvard. That's the idea they came with.”

Halal FG3 Speaker 1:

“The people who come in the mosque, they've been trained…because, it's always on the giving part, not on the taking part. So, let's say four of us are standing in a mosque, okay, and there's a food box lying there. I mean, I haven't seen any of our guys going there [saying], ‘Okay. Let me take because I'll need this thing. I'm gonna take it.’ They're not gonna take it.”

Halal FG2 Speaker 2: “We're always like, ‘Oh, does somebody need help?’ We can always, in any way that we can give help, we should be giving help… And in terms of how is that received, right? Meaning how does the community or the mosque respond to that? A big part of our religion is charity, [and] not just money charity. One of our holidays coming up on July, maybe 9th or 10th, is called Bakrid. And actually, it's based on the story of Isaac and Abraham…where he was told to sacrifice his son…in honor of that story, we sacrifice, maybe goats, maybe cows…[and] that meat is divided. One-third is given to your family, one-third to your friends. And another third is actually given to charity.”

Recommendations/Future Implications

The data that was collected and analyzed provide Long Island Cares, Inc., and our allied partners and providers insight into the specific needs of Long Islanders utilizing the emergency food network. Based on the information collected, our recommendations for future assistance are listed below.

Wyandanch

Computer literacy and effective means of outreach

Recommendation 1

While Wyandanch already has a supportive network in place, there is a disconnect between residents sourcing information online and in knowing about eligible programs/ support offered by emergency food partners.

This creates an opportunity for Long Island Cares, Inc. to work with our Wyandanch partners on effective outreach to the populations most at risk. We also see an opportunity for the Wyandanch Library to educate residents on computer literacy.

Distribution methods

Recommendation 2

A main contribution to poverty and food insecurity is lack of transportation (public and private). Although Wyandanch is a small community, offering a delivery option through providers is challenging.

To ensure equitable access, in Long Island Cares, Inc. 2023 strategies, we will look to incorporate delivery support through the providers themselves, and potentially expand Long Island Cares, Inc. programs to service the food insecure in Wyandanch through a delivery method.

Procurement of cultural-friendly foods

Recommendation 3

We will work alongside our contracted providers to support food insecure Wyandanch residents to procure food items most needed.

Price control necessary in a food desert

Recommendation 4

The residents of Wyandanch are restricted to one grocer. For a family with no means of transportation, the ability to source fresh and reasonably priced food is of tremendous concern. Many either choose to go without certain items or pool resources to get to a larger, more budget friendly grocer in a different town.

The local government needs to look at current food sourcing, alongside the future procurement of more accessible supermarket chains that can meet the needs of Wyandanch residents for more healthy and affordable options.

Kosher Distribution Methods

Recommendation 1

A main contribution to poverty and food insecurity is transportation (public and private). One of the Kosher pantries that we partner with already operates through a delivery-only method which, in relation to pride/stigma/dignity, allows the individuals more discretion. Expanding this method of delivery can aid individuals with mobility issues, whether due to medical reasons or lack of transportation.

Procurement of cultural-friendly foods

Recommendation 2

Long Island Cares, Inc. will continue to work beside our contracted providers to ensure that we are procuring the food items most needed following appropriate Kashrut guidelines. There is also an opportunity for Long Island Cares, Inc. to incorporate Kosher foods more regularly into Long Island Cares, Inc. satellite programs.

Halal

Effective outreach

Recommendation 1

Long Island Cares, Inc. is now aware that there is an established and supportive network of religious institutions already assisting their fellow Muslims in need. A collaborative effort needs to occur to disseminate this information broadly throughout Long Island communities that are Halal food insecure.

As part of Long Island Cares, Inc. 2023 strategies, we will look to partner with the existing mosque/masjid pantries operating throughout the Island. In partnering with these institutions, our goal is to alleviate the costs of food and supplies, and to amplify the services available to Muslims in need.

Procurement of cultural-friendly foods

Recommendation 2

Long Island Cares, Inc. will continue to work beside our contracted providers to ensure that we are procuring the food items most needed following appropriate Halal guidelines. There is also an opportunity for Long Island Cares, Inc. to incorporate Halal foods more regularly into Long Island Cares, Inc. satellite programs.

Conclusion

The communities of Long Island reflect rising suburban poverty. More than 228,000 Long Islanders suffering from food insecurity, housing inequality and inflation only exacerbates this issue (Feeding America, 2020; 2022). We must ensure that we are meeting the demand of every Long Islander in need.

To better understand the needs of this community, Long Island Cares, Inc. continues to assess and treat the root causes of hunger and poverty. We will use this information to strengthen our network of partners, eliminate barriers to accessing nutritious food, and improve the lives of those we serve.

Acknowledgments

The authors of this study would like to formally thank Feeding America for funding this research conducted in the spring and summer of 2022. The researchers also give many thanks to the people that participated in this study. Thank you for allowing us to learn from you: to your openness and generosity in sharing your story.

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