Proverbs 31:9: "Open your mouth, judge righteously, maintain the rights of the poor and needy."

This year was one in which the misery index rose for all Americans, a period in our nation's history frequently mentioned as mirroring the Great Depression of the 1930's: record unemployment, unheard of numbers of foreclosures, unthinkable losses in the stock market and overall increases in food prices. As a result, donors are becoming our clients, and people were forced to make the hard choices between paying their property taxes or buying food for their families, or between paying the mortgage/rent or buying food and medicine.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who made such an important difference in our clients' lives. Your tireless, unselfish efforts enabled us to fulfill our mission to serve Long Islanders in need. To all our staff, and to the Urban League workers, Work Experience workers, and Project Real participants, thank you for your good work. And welcome aboard to our new Freeport Emergency Food Center Manager, Wally Merna. Here are the statistics on clients we served through all three facilities:

Month	Household	Children	Adults	Seniors	Total Individuals	Meals	% Below Poverty
January	641	777	719	116	1612	14,508	99.5
February	503	605	590	91	1286	11,574	100
March	539	545	616	114	1275	11,475	99.5
April	523	653	624	117	1394	12,546	99.5
May	483	644	582	111	1337	12,033	99.5
June	419	596	489	83	1168	10,512	99.5
July	574	719	676	116	1511	13,599	99.5
August	643	930	743	114	1787	16,083	99.5
September	736	1024	890	142	2056	18,504	99.5
October	931	1244	1088	240	2572	23,148	99.5
November	865	1101	946	183	2230	20,070	99.5
December	920	1216	1124	155	2495	22,455	99.5
Total	7777	10054	9087	1582	20723	186,507	99
Served 595 dinners at Migrant Thanksgiving Dinner; distributed Thanksgiving Baskets to 197 families; distributed Christmas baskets to 335 families; Christmas toys to 276 families; coats and sweaters to 850; prescription assistance to 36, housing assistance to 70 households, transportation assistance to 574, Project Warmth (fuel, gas, oil, and electricity) to 57 households, and bedding, blankets and household items to 6,572.