On Wednesday, Island Harvest Food Bank received 140,000 donated eggs as part of a price-fixing settlement between the New York State Attorney General's Office and egg producers.

Food banks across New York will receive nearly 5 million eggs through the settlement. Of those, 972,000 eggs are headed to Long Island food banks.

"Eggs are so important to people and especially people who are in need who don't get access to protein product and particularly to eggs. It's expensive," said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest Food Bank. "This is pancakes and scrambled eggs and omelets and meatloaf and chicken that could be breaded now."

Island Harvest says eggs are one of the most important items food banks can provide.

For Tina of Hempstead, a carton of eggs means more than breakfast.

"It's a universal kind of product that you really do need," she said.

Tina says food pantries have become an essential resource for her family.

"Food pantries have been a lifesaver," she said. "When you go in a supermarket and see all the high prices, you're like, oh my God, what am I going to do? I can't afford it."

Now, she is one of thousands of Long Islanders who will benefit from the major egg donation being distributed through local food banks.

Island Harvest says every one of those eggs matters. The organization says about a quarter of a million Long Islanders are impacted by food insecurity, and eggs can help families stretch their budgets while providing a nutritious source of protein.

"I never thought I could celebrate eggs before, but when you don't have it, when you don't realize when it's gone, you realize my God," Tina said.

News 12 reached out to the three egg producers listed in the settlement, Cal-Maine Foods, Versova/Centrum and Hickman’s Egg Ranch.

Cal-Maine Foods sent News 12 the following statement:

"Cal-Maine cooperated fully in the comprehensive review process. The Company denies all wrongdoing and violations of law and continues to believe that such claims are baseless and that its conduct was lawful, appropriate and in the best interest of supplying eggs to the marketplace."