named programs · 1 · from sources
What they call their work
Lifeline Grocery Initiative
Distributes weekly boxes of fresh, locally sourced produce and pantry items to food-insecure families in Queens on a sliding scale; available via delivery or pick-up at multiple community locations
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 3 activities
- Distributing Lifeline Grocery Boxes to food-insecure familiesOperates the Lifeline Grocery Initiative to package and distribute nutrient-rich groceries weekly to food-insecure families in Queens, NY, through pick-up sites and home delivery, with boxes sourced primarily from local, regional, and BIPOC-owned farms. The program runs year-round and includes seasonal produce and staple pantry items offered on a sliding scale or at no cost.
- Organizing volunteer and skills-based support for food programsOrganizes volunteer efforts for packing and assembling Lifeline Grocery boxes and engages skilled volunteers in videography, legal services, grant writing, and other pro bono support to sustain operations.
- Providing food access via community fridgesDistributes fresh and shelf-stable food items to community fridges in Queens, including the Astoria Halal Fridge and Astoria Ravenswood Community Fridge, to expand access to nutritious food for underserved populations.
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
- Delivering food justice education programsOffers an interactive education program combining gardening, nutrition, and food justice for students and families during fall and spring growing seasons, including Food Justice Pop-up workshops covering food waste reduction, pollinator habitats, sustainable storage, herbal tea traditions, and upcycled planters, along with recipe demonstrations and grocery support.
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Local Food Market Operation 1 activity
- Operating Community Fresh Markets and pop-up marketsOperates a flagship Community Fresh Market open Thursdays through Saturdays and hosts pop-up fresh markets in corporate lobbies, cafeterias, or outdoor spaces in Queens, offering locally sourced produce and pantry items at a sliding scale with 25–50% discounts. Markets include live cooking demonstrations and tastings to engage the community.
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Clean Energy Workforce Training 1 activity
- Operating workforce development training in green constructionDelivers an 8-week, full-time, in-person workforce training program in green construction and energy efficiency for New Yorkers, aimed at preparing job seekers for careers in the construction industry.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$804K
Contributions & grants$485K60%
Program service revenue$313K39%
Investment income$40%
Other revenue$6K
expenses
Total expenses$949K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$418K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$598K
Cash$214K
Investments$0
Liabilities$24K
Net assets$573K
Liquid reserves2.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -29.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIMBERLY CALICHIO | DIRECTOR | 40 | $57K |
board members · 6
- ANDRONIKI LAGOS — BOARD MEMBER
- ERYCKA MONTOYA — BOARD MEMBER
- EVIE HANTZOPOULOS — EXECUTIVE DIR.
- NDUVO ABULSALAAM — EXECUTIVE CHEF
- STEPHANIE ARCEELLA — BOARD MEMBER
- TADESH INAGAKI — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- Andromeda Community Initiative Partner — Collaborates on workforce development programming in the construction industry.
- Astoria Halal Fridge Partner — Receives food donations from Connected Chef for community fridge distribution.
- Astoria Ravenswood Community Fridge Partner — Receives food donations from Connected Chef for community fridge distribution.
- BIPOC-owned farms Partner — Source seasonal produce from BIPOC-owned farms in the tri-state area.
- Cedar Crest Farm Partner — Partner farm supplying Bicolor Sweet Corn for produce boxes.
- Director of Partnerships Partner — Point of contact for corporate partnership opportunities.
- Farmigo, Inc. Partner — Service provider used for order processing and registration
- First Field Farm Partner — Provides canned tomatoes for grocery boxes.
- Grady Health System Partner — Partner in food justice programming and food distribution initiatives.
- Hellgate Farm Partner — Provides hot sauces and canned tomatoes for grocery boxes.
- Jacob Riis Community Center Partner — Hosts a grocery pick-up site in Queensbridge, Long Island City.
- Justice Committee Partner — Collaborates on community education around legal monitoring of law enforcement.
- Morganics Partner — Provides organic oats for grocery boxes.
- New Economy Project Partner — Provides financial justice resources and legal assistance referrals.
- New York Immigration Coalition Partner — Shares immigration-related community resources and toolkits.
- PS14Q Partner — School-based partner location for grocery pick-up.
- PS17/Q300 Partner — School-based partner location for grocery pick-up, serving faculty, employees, and student families.
- Peter Martens Farm Partner — Supplies beans and grains for grocery boxes.
- Plant Powered Metro New York Partner — Partners on promoting plant-based nutrition and food-as-medicine initiatives.
- Prince Abou Butchery Partner — Supplies halal meat for grocery boxes.
- Queens Botanical Garden Partner — Community partner collaborating on grocery distribution programs.
- Queens Museum Partner — Community partner collaborating on grocery distribution programs.
- Queens small businesses Partner — Suppliers of grocery staples for the Community Fresh Market.
- Seed + Oil Partner — Partner location for grocery pick-up.
- Sunnyside CSA Partner — Community partner collaborating on grocery distribution programs.
- Sunnyside Community Services Partner — Community partner collaborating on grocery distribution programs.
- The Grandpa Farm Partner — Partner farm in New York providing multiple produce items including kale, cabbage, and beets for distribution.
- Western Queens Food Coop Partner — Community partner collaborating on grocery distribution programs.
- Woodside on the Move Partner — Community partner collaborating on grocery distribution programs.
- after school programs Partner — Delivers the Family Farm Lab & Food Justice for Families program in partnership with after school programs.
+ 2 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Led Food Justice Model 54 orgsmethodology: community_led_food_systemsBy centering community agency in food access decisions through mutual aid and community-led governance, the organization increases engagement, reduces stigma, and builds sustainable local food systems because empowered communities are better equipped to identify and address their own needs.shared approach: Community-Led Food Systems →
- Culturally Relevant, Locally Integrated Distribution 54 orgsmethodology: local_food_system_integrationBy curating grocery boxes with seasonal, locally sourced and culturally appropriate foods, the organization improves nutritional and cultural alignment of food access because matching food offerings to community preferences increases utilization and supports local resilience.shared approach: Community-Led Food Systems →
- Equitable & Transparent Sourcing for Systemic Change 54 orgsmethodology: equitable_sourcingBy prioritizing procurement from BIPOC-owned and organic-practice farms—even if not certified—and sharing farm identities weekly, the organization advances racial and economic equity in the food system because transparent, values-aligned sourcing redistributes power and resources to historically marginalized producers.shared approach: Community-Led Food Systems →
- Sliding-Scale, Dignity-Centered Access 12 orgsmethodology: sliding_scale_accessBy using a self-reported, no-questions-asked sliding scale pricing model, the organization increases affordability and utilization of food services because it reduces financial barriers and preserves dignity, fostering trust and consistent participation.shared approach: Sliding-Scale Access →