Lines Out the Door. Hope Inside. Help Us Keep the Lights on and Families Fed.

The Coney Island Lighthouse Mission/Acts Community Development’s food pantry and hot meals kitchen feed over 7,000 families every month. Children, seniors, disabled neighbors, unhoused neighbors, working families and immigrants all rely on the Mission for food, stability, and community support. Operating for over 25 years, the largest emergency food provider in Coney Island is now fighting for its very survival and without the community’s vital support they will be forced to close their doors in the New Year.

Food insecurity is surging across New York City. More than 1.3 million residents struggle to afford consistent meals. SNAP cuts, rising costs of food, housing, healthcare and other necessities have pushed thousands of our neighbors to seek help from the Mission each week. Lines now stretch around the block -- hours before the food pantry or kitchen opens.

Due to continued reductions and cuts in funding since the pandemic, the Mission has struggled to meet its operating costs and have made cuts in staff and programming just to survive – while relying more on volunteers and continuing to meet its core objective. But with escalating costs, the Mission can no longer keep its doors open without an infusion of funding to pay for the rent, utilities, supplies and a few remaining essential staff for their storefront location on Mermaid Avenue that houses the refrigeration, storage, kitchen and after-school program needed to serve the people of Coney Island.

Hot meals are served twice a week through the soup kitchen, and two food pantry days distribute free groceries to thousands of neighbors. The Mission also provides for an after-school program that serves twenty-five local students daily Monday through Thursday with academic support, enrichment, and a nutritious meal, with the goal of returning to five days per week. Clothing distribution and drives are also held weekly at the Mission.

The Mission needs to raise $100,000 to keep serving Coney Island in 2026. Please Help keep the lights on, the shelves stocked, and the doors open for the neighbors who depend on Lighthouse Mission every single week.

This is your opportunity to be a blessing and impact fellow New Yorkers.