Long Island Cares opens new food pantry in Valley Stream to soften demand on Freeport location

Long Island Cares has opened its newest food pantry in Valley Stream to address the growing needs of local families. The pantry had a soft opening on Aug. 19 and will host its official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 10.

A key goal of the new location is to alleviate the demand for other regional pantries, especially the one in Freeport, which has been overwhelmed by requests for assistance.

“I think they were trying to alleviate some of that,” said Lourdes Talialatela, Program Center Coordinator. “So, put somebody right on the western border, and then you had Freeport, kind of like mid-Nassau. Then you have Bethpage a little further eastbound and more north, you know, to cover that area. But this way, we canvas the whole of Nassau County because it’s huge, and Freeport was getting the brunt of it.”

The two-year process for opening its doors involved waiting for permits, inspections, meetings with elected officials, negotiating with property owners, and working with contractors.

Adjustments to the building and several inspections, including fire marshal checks, had to be completed. Safety fixes, such as changes to door handles, were required, according to Talialatela.

Despite these challenges, Talialatela is grateful for the eventual success. “Thanks be to God, it finally came through,” she said, acknowledging the obstacles but expressing satisfaction with the outcome.

The pantry received a total of $560,000 in grants. $200K came from Assemblymember Michaelle Solages for rent, office equipment, and partial salary. Representative Gregory Meeks provided $360K, all for food purchases.

“One day we got 11 pallets of dry food delivered,” Talialatela said. “I’m going, ‘oh my God, where are we going to put all this stuff?’ But we managed.”

The pantry places orders directly with various suppliers, using a mix of grant funds, donations, and contributions from the USDA’s Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program.

With over 20 years of experience running a Catholic Church outreach and food pantry, Talialatela’s commitment to the cause is driven by her passion for helping those in need.

“The first day I came home [from working for the parish], my husband asked, ‘how was your day at work?’ And I just smiled and said, ‘it was wonderful.’ He said, ‘you know how long it’s been since I’ve heard you say that?’ It’s rewarding, it’s challenging at times, but I feel like that’s what I was called to do,” she shared.

A member agency of Long Island Cares for over two decades, Talialatela is now a full-time employee, dedicated to addressing what the organization’s founder, Harry Chapin, called “the shame of America”—hunger.

Though the Valley Stream pantry is still in its early stages, it has already registered over 30 families. Word of mouth, outreach to local organizations, and distributing flyers have helped raise awareness. While the pantry is still growing its volunteer base, Talialatela remains optimistic about its future and the positive impact it will have on the community.

The pantry serves all Nassau County residents but also considers individual circumstances. For example, people who live outside the service area but work nearby, such as a man from Massapequa who works across the street, are also accommodated.

The registration process is simple, requiring just a photo ID and proof of Nassau County residency, and no one is turned away without support.