Leaders of non-profit Community Action Program (RECAP) told Spectrum News Monday that they have enough volunteers to deliver food to families struggling due to the coronavirus, but not enough food.

Last week, a food delivery campaign organized by RECAP and another non-profit, LYNC, were only able to deliver food boxes to about half the 550 families on their list.

“We’ll see tomorrow where we’re at,” Volunteer and Orange County Legislator Kevindaryán Luján said during a phone interview Monday, “but I can tell you I’m also certain that it’s not going to be enough for the number of people we have on that list.”

RECAP COO says they’re working on ‘List A’ and ‘List B.’ List A is comprised of families who are still waiting on food deliveries from last week, and List B has all the people who were served last week and need to be served again this week. They haven’t gotten to List B yet. — Ben Nandy (@BenNandyNews) April 13, 2020

Luján said the safety net is being strained since other non-profits like Meals On Wheels have stopped operating, and increased shopping by others is preventing supermarkets from donating as much as they normally would.

Meanwhile, there has been a spike in the number of requests for food donations, likely because of lay-offs.

“I don’t know if we’re at the level of starvation, but we’re definitely at the level of ‘This is getting worse, not better,’ ” Luján said.

When asked Monday how the county is assisting, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said county food programs have been expanded.

“What we’ve done is take our senior dining program and veterans dining programs and we just offer them up to any resident, Neuhaus explained. “We started that five weeks ago, but the ones that have been in existence like Meals on Wheels are starting to go away.”

RECAP leaders said they are still working to fill requests left over from last week before they get to this week’s list, and that assisting families through the outbreak will require a large community response. The best assistance the public can offer are gift cards and money donations through its website, RECAP leaders said.

Donations can also be mailed to:

RECAP, Inc.

40 Smith Street

Middletown, NY 10940