A tiny storefront in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, has been a lifeline for Marco Ramirez and his family of four.
Three years ago, the 56-year-old began visiting the food pantry operated by Reaching-Out Community Services after his hours as a restaurant cook were cut. Every two weeks, he stops by to select items from a computer kiosk and waits for staff to wheel out his order, free of charge.
On a recent Wednesday afternoon, Ramirez packed his bags with staples like rice, meat, cooking oil and juice. Without the pantry’s help, he said, his family wouldn’t be able to afford pricey items like eggs…