With the holiday of Passover just around the corner.. social service groups around the city are mobilizing to make sure Jewish families in need have kosher for Passover food. NY1's Roger Clark reports on one of the biggest food distribution programs under way.

Sande Cohen depends on help to put food on the table year round. The Jewish holidays are no exception.  

"I was brought up in an Orthodox family, an Orthodox home,  so everything has to be by the numbers so it makes it easier for me. I know I don't have to worry I can go ahead and I can have kosher food, kosher for Passover,” said Cohen, a Shorefront Jewish Community Council client.

He is one of 1,000 people in the Brighton Beach community receiving food for the Passover holiday that begins next weekend.

 It's distributed by the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, which has been lending a hand to New Yorkers for more than four decades.

"We're going to be distributing 2.2 million pounds of food to families in need so that they can celebrate the holiday with dignity. And in addition we're also going to be distributing $430,000 in redeemable kosher for Passover food cards, which can be used at local supermarkets,” said Eric Munson, chief of staff of the Met Council.

Met Council works with 19 community based agencies at more than 100 sites around the city to distribute the food. It's key since Kosher items tend to be more expensive for folks who are already struggling.

"The most recent report that we have is that there are 300,000 New Yorkers who live in poor or near poor homes that also keep kosher,” said Rena Resnick, public affairs manager at the Met Council.

So the bags of Passover staples and basics like potatoes are a big help for these mostly elderly residents who seek help.

"A program like this gets highlighted during this time of year which is incredibly important, but it's something that's deeply needed throughout the year throughout the city,” said Rachel Krich of the Shorefront Community Council.

Nadezhda Stolyarov says she appreciates the chance to have what she needs for a traditional Passover Seder.

"This is nice to get something like a present, like a gift,” said Stolyarov.

The Met council will be distributing food through the next week, and when it's all said and done they expect to help 100,000 people have a great holiday meal. 

For more information, go to metcouncil.org.