The Truth and the Facts: Food Inequality on Long Island

Long Island is a region of food haves and food have nots. This divide has been exacerbated by the Great Recession, leaving  more than 300,000 residents in food poverty, uncertain whether they will be able eat an adequate amount of nutritious food each day. For these individuals, the pressures of daily life are often draining and overwhelming, posing significant threats to physical and mental well-being. In the face of such need, the creation of successful, cost- efficient strategies to address food insufficiency is one of our region’s most critical challenges.

A new Adelphi University report, “The Truth and the Facts: Food Inequality on Long Island”, provides the region’s first comprehensive look at the day-to-day experiences of living in food insecurity, combining first-hand accounts with rigorous analysis to bring to light the multifaceted challenges and coping strategies of food insecure households. The study focuses on one community with food access challenges and offers critical insights for stakeholders interested in empowering all Long Islanders to live more secure, self-sufficient lives.

 Speakers include: 

• Sarah Eichberg, Director of Community Research, Adelphi University and Principal Investigator
• Jacqueline Hart, Vice President for Strategic Learning, Research and Evaluation, American Jewish World Service
• Study participants who will provide their views on the findings and their daily experiences with food

The forum will also include an exhibit of photographs and captions created by community residents as part of the study. These images focus on the lived experience of food inequality.