This site is a campaign that has multiple locations to eliminate hunger which is called “The Campaign Against Hunger”. This program has helped thousands of New Yorkers by giving them food and resources to help them survive. TCAH has been helping people and has been around since 1998, they have been using a community approach to feeding hungry individuals in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and neighboring communities. “The Campaign Against Hunger” (TCAH) is an amazing program that has helped thousands of New Yorkers by giving them food and resources to help them survive. TCAH has been helping people and has been around since 1998, using a community approach to feeding hungry individuals in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and neighboring communities. Their goal is to expand their reach across the city more, to help a variety of neighborhoods address hunger. What would it mean to live in a future where people don’t have to suffer so much from food insecurity? And, how can people in the community help out? It is inspiring to see how the community comes together to help and for the greater good. The Campaign Against Hunger is a great example of how we could reshape the future by doing outreach round the city, making food more accessible, and spreading the word to families. This place could engage even more people to let them know how they could help. This campaign has been around since 1998 so they are already on their way to realize a more well-fed future to re-shape the city. Quote: "The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH) is making remarkable strides, serving more than 145 zip codes, and feeding more than 14,000 meals weekly throughout NYC to address food insecurity through its diverse and innovative program departments. Their SuperPantry offers a vast selection of nutritious food items, catering to the unique dietary needs of the community. The Community Food Distribution Centers serve as pivotal hubs, ensuring food accessibility in various neighborhoods. With the Mobile Pantry and Satellite Pantry programs, TCAH extends its reach, delivering essential food supplies to those in underserved areas. The Cyber Choice Pantry is a groundbreaking initiative, offering a digital platform for individuals to select food items remotely, enhancing convenience and choice. The Green Teen Workforce and Internship Program fosters youth engagement in urban agriculture, cultivating both agricultural skills and environmental stewardship. The Culinary Arts Program empowers participants with cooking skills, nutritional knowledge, and potential career pathways in the culinary field. Fresh Vibes Mobile Farmer's Market brings fresh, locally-sourced produce directly to the community, promoting healthy eating habits. Lastly, the Benefits Access Services provide vital assistance in navigating and obtaining various public benefits, ensuring that individuals and families have access to the resources they need. Together, these departments form a comprehensive approach to combating food insecurity, focusing on accessibility, education, and empowerment.” -The Campaign Against Hunger Questions: What do you think is the best way to spread awareness about food insecurity? Do you personally know anybody who has experienced food insecurity before? Have you ever thought food insecurity would affect someone you know? “Our Story.” The Campaign Against Hunger. Accessed December 18, 2023. https://www.tcahnyc.org/our-story/.

No one should go hungry ever, and especially not in gentrifying Brooklyn where there are more than enough resources to go around. Bay Ridge Community Development Center (BRCDC) provides a food program that helps individuals of the South Brooklyn community with fresh produce, groceries, hot meals, and meal packs with much more. Bay Ridge’s overall mission is to promote and provide the highest quality activities and services that will contribute to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the community. Feeding people is part of this. The BRCDC program connects the community together and provides program opportunities for the children, teens and senior citizens within the community. They have an Instagram page where they advertise what they do to support families. They also have an annual turkey giveaway for Thanksgiving. In terms of addressing food insecurity, every week BRCDC volunteers put together fresh produce and non-perishable groceries that feed 400-500 families. BRCDC also helped hundreds of families in the community during the Covid-19 crisis. They did this as part of the Pandemic Food Reserve Emergency Distribution program in response to the Covid-19 public health crisis. In addition, BRCDC has distributed over 5,000 hot meals,1,000 food boxes and over 10,000 meal packs in partnership with the Islamic Relief USA. BRCDC offers a model as to how we might reshape the city to address hunger. Imagine if all residents could access groceries and healthy meals. This is especially true in New York, where the food markets are expensive and where many do not have cars to access cheaper food. The BRCDC has a bigger goal of how to make meals and food more affordable. “Food Program.” Bay Ridge Community Development Center. Accessed December 18, 2023. https://brcdc.org/food-program.

Quote: “The purpose of our community center is to bring community members together to celebrate our diversity and to provide quality services and programs that will benefit all.” -Bibi Esahack (Executive Director of Bay Ridge Community Development Center) Questions: Have you ever thought food insecurity would affect someone you know? “Food Program.” Bay Ridge Community Development Center. Accessed December 18, 2023. https://brcdc.org/food-program.

This program has fresh food pantries that are offered to people with certain zip codes like 11201,11025,11217 and 11238. This is a Non-profit organization located in Brooklyn called “One Community”. This organization is to help families get enough food in the Fort Greene area. Other than the location 13 Greene Avenue, Brooklyn, Ny 11238 there are two other fresh official food pantry locations within this community center in which families could go to get food. There is the Ingersoll Fresh Pantry located at the Ingersoll Community Center at 177 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, Ny, 11021 and the Farragut Pantry ran at the Church of the Open Door located at 201 Gold St, Brooklyn, Ny 11201 and 13 Greene Ave. The big goal to achieve at these pantries is to work to create a sustainable program on working to eliminate hunger in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. They also want to improve the purchasing power of local low-income residents. Food insecurity in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill in Brooklyn is a significant issue. On the streets you can see unhoused people who are suffering. The organization “One Community” helps families get enough food through their fresh food pantry. Other than the location at 13 Greene Avenue, Brooklyn, Ny 11238 there are two other official fresh food pantry locations in the communities: the Ingersoll Fresh Pantry located at 177 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn and the Farragut Pantry at the Church of the Open Door located at 201 Gold St, Brooklyn. The goal of the food pantries is to create a sustainable program to eliminate hunger in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. They also want to improve the purchasing power of local low-income residents. Their three pantries are staffed by multilingual volunteers and employees from public housing. The “One Community” has estimated that two thousand households and almost four thousand residents at minimum should receive food in order to address the food insecurity that is happening within the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill communities. The program supports the participating families budgets by providing a substantial amount of nutritious and healthy food every week. During the Covid-19 crisis they organized a coalition of over 30 organizations to deliver groceries to the individuals who shouldn’t go out during these dangerous times. On each weekend there would be over 70 volunteers who would go out and deliver the foods that they packed to the low-income households. “Food Justice Program.” One Community. Accessed December 18, 2023. https://www.onecommunitynyc.org/freshpantries.

Quote:“Fresh Pantries serves 900 households – 2,400 people – weekly through pantries at Fort Greene’s public housing. Its goal is to provide three days of quality food weekly. When it succeeds, three intertwined life-changing things happen. First, patrons are assured an adequate diet, eliminating food insecurity. Second, they receive significant economic support; with a predictable amount of food, they can budget saving $3,500 per year, stretching their poverty-level family incomes. Finally, they are treated equitably, with the wide variety of high quality, appealing food any of us would be happy to eat.” -Jed S. Marcus (One Community) Questions: Have you ever wondered if food insecurity would affect you in the future? “Food Justice Program.” One Community. Accessed December 18, 2023. https://www.onecommunitynyc.org/freshpantries.

What are ways you would help with food insecurity? Photo taken by Cierra Jackson