As food insecurity rises amid uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits, volunteers in Crown Heights say they’re witnessing a troubling trend – giant piles of donated produce left to rot on sidewalks just steps away from communities in need.

Across the Brooklyn neighborhood, unofficial donation drop-offs, often consisting of boxes of vegetables have been appearing on curbs and corners.

But instead of being distributed to food pantries or families, many of these boxes sit exposed for days, attracting pests and eventually being cleared by sanitation crews as News 12 previously reported.

“It hurts to see this because just how much is being wasted,” said Terry Chao, a local volunteer who helps rescue food for nearby pantries. Chao and others have been combing through the piles, salvaging what they can and delivering it to community fridges and food banks.

The timing couldn’t be worse. With SNAP benefits in flux, more residents are turning to emergency food sources. Volunteers say every bit of edible produce matters, and that these donations should be handled more responsibly from the start.

Janice, a Crown Heights resident who relies on food donations for her family, expressed frustration.

“I think they can do it a little bit better for the community,” she said. “Give it in a decent manner, not lying on the street like that. Lots of people need this, but they don’t know it’s here.”

Many of the donations left to rot this week outside 1337 Presidents St. were labeled as coming from Sunset, a food distributor. Chao reached out to the company, which responded with surprise, saying they were unaware their produce was being left to spoil and are now investigating the situation.

According to DSNY: "The city maintains a food donation portal called donateNYC that can be used to facilitate these kinds of large-scale donations, in addition to coordinating with the recipient directly.”

While the latest pile has since been removed, News 12 attempted to contact the property owners where the boxes were found to ask whether they were responsible for the donations and if more pallets are expected. There was no response.

Chao hopes that in the future, those donating the food can call local organizations first and work with them to save more food.

"It's one phone call, there are so many organizations here that want to help," she said, adding that the rescued cucumbers and peppers were brought to the community fridge on Classon Avenue.