Shortly after dismissal Thursday afternoon, educators and students at David Paterson Elementary School in Hempstead handed out Stop and Shop bags filled with canned peas, peanut butter, pasta, cereal and other items to dozens of residents.

The event marked the opening of the district's second food pantry, which educators said was in response to a growing need in the community amid the ongoing federal government shutdown and cuts to food assistance.

"A lot of people are hurting at this time," school board president Jeffrey Spencer said. "Times in this country are bad, with SNAP benefits being cut and people out of work. It’s all our responsibility, no matter what, to make sure everybody gets a meal."

The district already runs a food pantry out of Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School .

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