Dozens of volunteers at the Sid Jacobson JCC gathered Tuesday to prepare kosher for Passover food packages for families in need.

The Met Council partnered with a Long Island family’s foundation, the Cooper Family Foundation, to provide the food to be packaged at the Sid Jacobson JCC.

Sid Jacobson JCC community engagement associate executive director Susan Berman says food insecurity in the Jewish community only continues to unfortunately increase over time.

"People have already started asking us about what's coming in for Passover because people worry about it,” she said.

As prices on just about everything at the grocery store continue to rise, it makes it harder for families to put food on the table.

The Met Council Food Programs managing director Hannah Lupien says it’s especially hard during Passover.

"At Passover, particularly for Kosher observant households, they have to change over everything that's in their kitchen from not kosher for Passover, to kosher for Passover,” she said.

Todd Cooper, of The Cooper Family Foundation, says his family’s roots run deep on Long Island. 

"We love Long Island and this is a real mitzvah for the people of Long Island,” he said.

He says partnering with the Met Council to get the food they need for their family distribution packages was a no brainer. 

"It's a really hard holiday and it's a really expensive holiday. And to ensure that, regardless of financial hardship, that people are going to be able to maintain a tradition is a really lovely thing,” said Berman. "The impact is tremendous and it is lifesaving for sure.

If you're facing food insecurity, contact the Sid Jacobson JCC Warm Line at 516-399-2350 to find out how you can get assistance.