"Operating for more than 25 years, the Coney Island Lighthouse Mission and its nonprofit arm, Acts Community Development, serve more than 7,000 families each month through a food pantry, hot meals kitchen and a range of outreach programs at their storefront on Mermaid Avenue. That translates to more than 14,000 people relying on the Mission for necessities, according to Pastor Tony Robbins, who has overseen operations since 2020."
"However, while the food supply itself is not the problem, the Mission is struggling to cover basic operating expenses - including rent, utilities, refrigeration, storage and minimal staff - after losing major donors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Since COVID hit, we lost all our major donors," Robbins said. "They've been very supportive, doing the best that they can, but it's just not enough to take care of our overhead expenses.""
"In addition to food distribution, the Mission operates a free after-school program for approximately 25 children, a weekly clothing drive, an annual coat drive in partnership with Coney Island Prep High School, and a sleeping bag project for individuals experiencing homelessness."
The Coney Island Lighthouse Mission and Acts Community Development operate a food pantry and soup kitchen that reach over 7,000 families and roughly 14,000 people each month from a Mermaid Avenue storefront. Programs include a hot meals kitchen, a free after-school program for about 25 children, weekly clothing drives, an annual coat drive with Coney Island Prep High School, and a sleeping bag project for people experiencing homelessness. The Mission lost major donors after the COVID-19 pandemic and now struggles to pay rent, utilities, refrigeration, storage and minimal staff. Staffing and programming have been cut and volunteers sustain core services. Emergency funding is required to prevent closure by January and to ensure operations continue into 2026.
Read at Brooklyn Paper
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