Coney Island food pantry in funding crisis

The holiday lights offer a warm welcome to visitors to Mermaid Avenue. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Steve Solomonson

CONEY ISLAND – A 25-YEAR-OLD SOUTHERN Brooklyn food pantry is facing a possible closure in January after major donors departed in the wake of the pandemic, reports the Brooklyn Paper.

The Coney Island Lighthouse Mission operates out of a Mermaid Avenue storefront and serves 14,000 people a month through its food pantry and other programs, with usage spiking as prices of essential goods have soared in recent years. Its leaders say the nonprofit will need to raise around $100,000 to continue to operate in 2026, and that it’s struggling to pay rent, utilities, staff salaries and other expenses.

Incoming Councilmember Kayla Santosuosso, the chief counsel for current Councilmember Justin Brannan who won the election for the area’s open seat last month, says she’s working to help raise funds and organize volunteers for the “important organization,” while its leadership is asking the public to consider donating money, time or goods.

✰✰✰