— I don’t know.

Yeah, that must be it, right?

What’s that — that must be it there. Yeah, the Halal food pantry. All right, it’s 7:04 on a Friday morning. [CAR HONKING] The pantry doesn’t open for another couple of hours. And people are already lined up down the block. They’ve brought baskets or little portable chairs so they can sit down while they wait. And they’re waiting for it to open.

Yes. So before the pandemic, I had covered pantries. And, you know, there would be a few people in line. If you were walking past, you might not have known that it was a pantry. But when the pandemic hit, the need was just unbelievable. You had job loss, but you also had this pandemic that made it difficult for a lot of people to actually volunteer at the pantries. So a lot of smaller pantries have closed. And I’m not saying, like, a few. Like hundreds closed because they were mainly run by elderly volunteers who just could not be exposed to the virus.

So as the number of people who need food assistance is growing, the number of pantries has actually diminished. So these things are happening at the same time.

Yes. And one of the reasons you also see so many people in this line is because this line serves a lot of immigrants. And so it’s like, what are you going to do if you’ve lost your job and you have no public assistance? Getting in this line, you know, this is not a choice. This is a necessity.

I actually got up around 3:00 a.m. And when I looked, I saw the line just already there.

People are going to wait, like, seven, eight hours just to get some groceries.

Wow, man, it’s something else. I’ve never seen anything like this, though. I never thought our food pantry would be something like this, or there would be such a big need. Covid just changed a whole lot of things. It has changed entire way of life.

(MAKING ANNOUNCEMENT) Social distancing, six feet apart. You are too close — yeah, it’s loud — you are too close together.

We’d never expected this much. I never expected it. We thought it was — we were doing like 60 clients a week. And now it’s just unbelievable. Thousands — at least 2,000 on the line.

— is a community based organization that is to help our Americans and new Americans to fulfill their American dream.

I came here when I was about 6 years old with my parents, immigrating from Pakistan.

I grew up in the Sheepshead Bay projects in Brooklyn. My dad was running two jobs. My mother was running two jobs. I grew up on food stamps. Myself, my kids also. But I worked and I worked and I worked. And you know, I got to running five different businesses. And then 9/11 happened. And after 9/11, people came to my stores, saying, I need help for immigration services. And I ultimately gave up all my businesses. I sold it all off. And this is all I do for the past 18 years.

(MAKING ANNOUNCEMENT) Essential workers should be on the left side.

(MAKING ANNOUNCEMENT) I want a straight line so we can start soon, please.

— in this tent that they set up.

And pallets of food. I see some canned corn, canned collard greens, chickpeas.

So the plan for the day is, as the line grows, there’s going to be 1, 2, 3, 4 people who are going to start to give them tickets.

55, 56, 57.

And they’re going to say, OK, please do not lose your slip. Otherwise you will lose your spot in line. Because that’s a huge thing we learned.

(SHARPLY) She came about 15, 20 minutes ago. Don’t give her no number.

Please, let me take care of this. It’s OK. I don’t want to argue. Please just go back.

People were fighting. I’m like, I can’t believe it. You know, you guys, don’t fight, please.

OK, for now, just let it be, please. It’s one extra person right now. Just let it be. It’s OK.

So this starts at 10:30. So we’re going to have a team — what time is it? Is it almost time?

Almost.

Oh, five minutes now. Let me go tell Kelsey. Where is she? Oh, give me a second. (CALLING OUT) Dillard! Dillard.

Go, guys! Who’s my number one? You’re number one. Vamos aquí. ¿Qué paso? Hold this. Thank you, auntie. Come this way.

Oh, she gets the carrots. Then the watermelon, then the beets, then the onions. And then we get the cucumbers, the canned fruits, tuna and tomatoes. And then we get rice, and then we got the beans and a gallon of milk. Oh, and we got eggs — egg whites. Wonderful. There you go. And then you’re also going to get cilantro.

Here you go, ma’am.

OK, thank you. [INAUDIBLE] cilantro [INAUDIBLE]?

You already got cilantro, right?

Shall we walk?

Yeah, go on.

We’d love to speak with some people in line.

OK, so let’s talk.

Hi there.

Hi.

Can you give your name? What’s your name.

My name’s Sabira.

And how old are you?

I’m 55.

And I’m unemployed. Because our store fired us, because store filed for bankruptcy. And I was a register cashier.

How long have you been coming here?

Already like second month, I think so. We found out they’re giving food, and we start coming.

And what time did you get here today?

I came here like around 4 o’clock. And I just put my cart —

4 a.m.

Yes, 4 a.m. to put my cart and go home, and then come back 8 o’clock.

How long have you been coming here to this pantry?

About two months.

About six months.

Last week I came, and that’s it.

May I ask how old you are?

I’m 14.

14. And how long have you been coming to this food pantry?

I would say a few months, basically, because my mom, she worked at a nursing home. And my dad, he used to be like a food vendor. So we had no source of income. So we had to resort to here. And it was very helpful. And it helped us —

I’m working for the hotel, housekeeper.

Making donut, Dunkin’ Donuts.

I sing opera.

I worked at Stouffer’s, the package department.

How did you feel coming to the pantry for the first time?

Oh, my goodness. I feel so depressed. Because I never go to the line for food. Because always working. I had 30 years in the company working. So I said, oh my god. But you know, it does help a lot.

What’s your name?

Natasha.

Natasha. And how old are you, Natasha?

I’m 32.

When did you start coming?

So when the Covid-19 started, that’s when we started coming. Because my husband has lost his job and I have two kids.

What does your husband do for a living?

So he’s a cab driver.

Oh.

Yeah. And it was very, very, very hard for us. Because before, I would think that food pantries is something where people go, they’re homeless people. But I didn’t know that we, as a family, we would be ever in need.

What did you see in your kitchen — or what did you not see in your kitchen where you thought, I have to go to the pantry?

Yeah, before, were able to — we could go to the store at anytime we want. We buy any kind of snacks for the kids, to have lots of vegetables, lot of fruits, lot of whole-grain pasta and all this. And my older one is 4. He was used to going to the store with us and buying whatever he wanted. So it was not easy task to explain to him that, right now, we’re just not able to do that. But slowly, slowly, he understand. And now, whenever we go to the store, he’s like, OK, how much is this and how much is this? Can we afford that?

You talked about snacks for your kids. What have you not been able to give them that you could before your husband lost his job?

Mostly fruit.

What’s their favorite fruit?

My favorite fruit or their favorite fruit?

Both. What’s your favorite and what’s their favorite?

So they really like cantaloupe. Yeah, they really like cantaloupe and watermelon. And that’s what I like, too, the watermelon and cantaloupe.

All right, so let’s go over there.

Hi.

Hi there.

How are you?

Hi, good.

What time did you get here today?

Oh, I get like 8:00, 8:30, yeah.

Mm-hmm. And how long have you been coming to the pantry?

Oh, this is the first time I’m coming here.

Oh, this is the first time?

Yes. I heard this is a halal place. And I’m a Muslim. And I like to come here to get halal food.

OK. How old are you?

I’m 25.

And are you working right now?

I actually work in a Burger King. And they are open right now, but I am really scared to go there because I have old parents to take care of. And I’m living in a one-bedroom apartment. So I don’t have a place to quarantine for them. So yeah, it’s really hard time for us. I don’t know how I say the word. It’s like I feel like I’m a poor person right now, and out of money. I never thought about it. Because I thought U.S.A. is a dream place where I can live my life. I mean, if it’s not wearing a mask, then I would never come, I think. Because of the mask, I feel like I can protect my identity. Like no one can see me. And I can come here and get food.

What would you be afraid of if you weren’t wearing a mask? Why not come?

Because, like, maybe my neighbor or maybe someone will see me. And I don’t want to be in the situation to get free foods. Because I can work. But yeah, this is the nightmare for us.

But actually I didn’t know there would be a long line. So yeah, now I feel like I’m not alone like that. Yeah.

So my name is Stella. What’s your name?

Maria.

Maria. And may I ask how old you are?

28.

And I see that you have one on the way. How many months are you?

7 and 1/2.

7 and 1/2. Wow. Almost there. And you’re carrying so many bags right now.

Yeah.

And what made you first start coming to the pantry?

Because I lost my job. I was working on the daycare. I mean, we have to eat. [CHUCKLES] And I’m a single mother, and I’m pregnant. And I said, oh my god, what am I going to do? So it was horrible for me. I mean, I’m supposed to have twins. But for this virus, it’s like — and I lost my job. So it was like depressed and everything. So I lost one. But —

I’m sorry.

— it was difficult. But now it’s much better. Yeah, thank God. And this has helped a lot.

Do you know what you’re having?

A girl. [CHUCKLES]

A girl. Do you have a name yet?

Yes. Yes. It’s Ayana (sp).

Oh. Why Ayana?

It’s Ayana, it’s a Mexican name. It’s for our village. So it means “gift from the sky.” In the future maybe she could have, like, strong woman. Like right now, before she born, she’s, like, fight for the life and everything. So I think she’s going to be a great woman, fighter and everything. Yeah, that’s what I think.

What number are you on?

678. And we still have three hours to go.

Keep moving, keep moving. I need you to keep moving. Thank you so much. Quickly, guys. [INAUDIBLE] come on.

Shall we get an update from —

Mohammad.

— Mohammad about the food situation? Can I ask you for an update about where we are with the amount of food? What have you run out of?

I’ve run out of the milk. Milk is on its way. I ran out of the vegetables. And I ran out of a whole bunch of other stuff.

Yeah. [LAUGHS]

This really is slim pickings. Remember, when we first arrived, this whole tent was filled with food. And now I just see boxes and boxes of canned tomatoes. But, like —

Some black beans.

— the cabbage is gone. The watermelons went first. What else was out here? Like —

Cauliflower, carrots, potatoes, onions.

The carrots and potatoes, just gone.

All the produce is gone.

The produce is gone. And for a lot of people, that’s the most expensive thing. So a bag of black beans, we could find for $1.00 or $2.00. Produce is very different. Seeing this right now, at — what time is it — at 2:20, it now gives me a better understanding of why people work here at 4 a.m., and people were putting their carts down at 1 a.m.

Keep moving, keep moving. No, no!

No, you cannot take the oil. I need you to move forward.

Seems like a fight over whether or not she can have more oil.

No, no, no, no.

Oh, that must be so hard.

It is, it is, because everybody is saying they need. I know everybody needs, but we’ve got to share with everyone. And that’s the objective. Oh, I’m so worried.

Come on, guys, come on, come on, come on!

Right this way. I’m still waiting on my milk.

Aw, what are you worried about?

I was supposed to get 10 pallets of milk and yogurt, which also I wanted to distribute.

And it hasn’t come.

It hasn’t come. So you know, it happens.

And so what’s happened with the line?

So we told them to wait, because in nine minutes I should have a truck here.

So nine minutes?

Yeah, hopefully in nine minutes.

OK, I heard 40 minutes.

No, he said 2:30. So it’s 2:20.

Look, please, I’ve been waiting a long time. I was already on line. I was, like, down the block. Can I just have what I want? Do I have to wait here?

No, if you don’t want to wait for the milk —

I can be patient, it’s fine.

Do you want to wait for the milk?

Yes, of course.

OK, gotcha.

It’s 2:40 in the afternoon. The milk and the yogurt was supposed to arrive at 2:30 and it’s still not here. And now people are getting upset.

I just needed a cigarette break. [GROANS] You know what I’m saying? But I can’t have one. [CHUCKLES] I don’t know what else to do, OK?

There’s just a lot of tension. And that’s what I’ve seen in pretty much every pantry I have gone to. There is some kind of complaint or argument, either between people who are in line or the people in line versus the volunteers.

It must be so frustrating to be at the mercy of whenever the food arrives.

Well, here’s the thing about covering poverty. What hurts me the most is the lack of choices and the waiting. People who have nothing, the waiting is horrible.

I don’t think people understand how valuable time is. And the time (TEARFULLY) you have to take.

Yeah.

Did anyone —

Yeah, where is the truck?

I don’t know.

It must be down there.

I have had the feeling that the truck is about to arrive for about 45 minutes now. The line’s gotten longer.

I know. I thought it was going to be over. And then I’m like, oh, more people have shown up now.

Yeah.

(HESITANTLY) And looks like this is it.

Wow.

How do you feel now?

I feel so good now. I just wanted to get that stuff to them. No, you go to go in line. It’s OK. It’s all good. I’m not going to drink all that milk. The line is back on Avenue H. I’m going to take a look.

What’s that?

The line is back to Avenue H. [COUGHS]

Oh no. [PIANO MUSIC]

How do you feel about what you ended up getting today?

Actually, I feel really great. Because they gave us the organic milk — organic chocolate milk. That will be great for my kids. They love chocolate milk. Yogurt — it’s also organic. So my kids would love that. Cucumbers are good for salad. I love that too. I find this food super healthy. And I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here and to get the free food.

Awesome. Thank you so much.

Thank you, sweetie.

Take care.

It’s all good.

What do you say?

Thank God. Thank God we were able to get everybody on the line.

Yeah.

I just don’t want anybody to be turned away.

Yeah.

You know, because they’re here, they need.

It feels good, you know? You gotta count your blessings. I mean, it’s a blessing for us to be in these people’s lives. For me it definitely is.

It’s a big thing going on over here. And I hope it continues. I really do hope it continues after December 31. Because that’s like cutoff right now. We don’t know what to do after that.

What do you mean that’s the cutoff?

In terms of funding. This is a private foundation. The city didn’t give us anything. So we’re trying to get money from the city to continue this. But they’re doing a lot of cuts in the budget.

Thank you so much for coming. Please, right this way. Let me just get my last ravioli out. [CHUCKLES]

Thank you. Oh, no, thank you for being here, guys.

So she we take account of your state at the end of the day? You have a bloody finger.

Oh, that’s OK. [CHUCKLES]

You have a lost voice. And you have dog poop on your shoe.

Oh no.

[LAUGHS]

I got to wash my feet now.

[LAUGHS]

But it’s beautiful. There’s no line.

There’s no line. All right, thanks so much.

God bless. Take care, guys.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

Thank you.

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