A beloved food pantry in Bed-Stuy says despite full shelves of fresh produce donated from local stores, eager volunteers and 60,000 people served per year, they are at risk of losing their space. "We did not hit our fundraising goal and since November. Our rent has been late," says director of Santana and Vargas Charities, Lucille Vargas. She explains that they would need to raise $25,000 to keep their current lease. Many of the volunteers who helped served the food themselves have relied on the charity in their moment of need. They are now working to connect those who suffer from food insecurity to resources, and help those in need apply for programs like WIC, SNAP and TANF. The shelves are piled high with fresh vegetables, shelf stable proteins and even eggs, with volunteers packing up in-marked grocery bags for those in need to collect or pack their own. “People need the fresh food, they need the dignity, they like checking out the food and we hand it to them with a smile, andthat’s something they’re not necessarily seeing, and we got sofrito. Who can say no to that?” said volunteer Jessica Estrella. The facility also works to help buy children's clothing, shoes and toys for those in the area. While no final date has been released for their last day, they are hoping donations can help them keep their doors open at a time of more people than ever are walking through them for help. “This would be a major hardship for them, and we want to stay in this area,” Vargas said.