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News 12 Long Island reports on increased demand at food banks

News organizations are reporting a huge surge in demand for food as the result of people losing paychecks and jobs because of the business shutdown sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran on Monday announced a partnership with Island Harvest to establish nine food banks in the county; New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said he was providing $25 million in funding to food banks because of the increased demand; and News12 did a story today,  focusing on a food bank run by Island Harvest, and reporting a 40 percent increase of demand on Long Island.

But look at all the plastic bags! Not a reuseable or paper bag to be seen as volunteers put together staples for people lined up to get their next meal.


Remember? New York banned plastic bags. The ban, intended to protect the environmental, took effect March 1, just as the coronavirus was noticeably sickening people. (The virus had been around earlier but many New York leaders paid no attention.)

New York reportedly stopped enforcing the ban in the middle of March but didn't really tell anybody. Meanwhile, California, Massachusetts and Connecticut suspended their bans on plastic bags because of worries that reusable bags would spread the virus.

New York didn't officially lift its ban until a court in April ordered no enforcement until June 15.

So what happens at the food banks on June 15? 


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