Vandal scatters nails, splatters paint outside Long Island food pantry

Updated 1 hour ago
BELLPORT, Long Island (WABC) -- Officials are investigating a disturbing act of vandalism at a nonprofit on Long Island after someone threw paint and nails throughout the parking lot.

It happened at the Lighthouse Mission in Bellport and has left people asking why someone would target a charity that feeds more than 2,500 people each week.

The organization brings trucks filled with food to nine different locations every week.

The pastor says last month they fed about 11,500 people and he says they see more in need of food every week.

On Monday employees showed up to the headquarters and were disappointed to find nails scattered and paint splattered all over the parking lot and in the roadway.



Surveillance video captured a person throwing paint on the ground and there is still remanence of it on the road.

"We cleaned the nails and power washed the paint and went right to our warehouse and served the community as we normally would, we are not going to let vandalism stop us from serving the communities," said Pastor Jim Ryan.

Ryan said they called police to block off the road so that they could clean it up safely, but they did not file a police report.

Instead, they are praying for the person who committed the vandalism.

"We're going to forgive the people who persecute us or do things like vandalism like this," Ryan said.



With the mess cleaned up, the local food pantry is focusing on bringing hope to the communities they serve and helping people.

----------
* More Long Island news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Download our connected TV app

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.