named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Fridge Initiative
Installation and stocking of community refrigerators in public housing developments such as Dyckman Houses and George Washington Houses to provide 24/7 food access
Food Rescue Partnerships
Collaborations with local retailers, restaurants, and caterers to rescue surplus food and redirect it to communities in need
Weekly Produce Distributions
Regular food distributions at public housing complexes across NYC, including NYCHA Gowanus Houses and All Souls Church, delivering rescued produce, dairy, meat, and pantry items
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 3 activities
- Operation and maintenance of community refrigeratorsBuilds, installs, and maintains community refrigerators in high-need areas, such as the Dyckman Houses, to provide 24-hour access to fresh food for public housing residents. These fridges are operated in partnership with tenant associations and local businesses.
- Rescue and distribution of surplus food to public housing communitiesRescues surplus food from retailers, restaurants, and other donors—including 20 to 40 excess meals daily from each of five Manhattan Whole Foods locations—and delivers it directly to NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority) complexes and other underserved communities. The organization has rescued over 17 million pounds of food since 2020, distributing millions of pounds annually to food-insecure New Yorkers across more than fifty public housing sites.
- Weekly and event-based food distribution in NYC neighborhoodsConducts regular weekly produce distributions and special food giveaway events—such as Thanksgiving distributions—at public housing complexes and community hubs across New York City, including East Harlem, Bushwick, Inwood, and northwest Brooklyn. These efforts distribute over 75,000 pounds of food per week and have included single events delivering 10,000 pounds of frozen meat or 15,000 pounds of fresh groceries to hundreds of households.
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Public Benefits Navigation and Enrollment 1 activity
- Support for SNAP enrollment and benefits accessProvides tools and direct support to help individuals determine eligibility and apply for SNAP benefits through online, phone, and in-person channels.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$11.04M
Contributions & grants$11.03M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$10K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$10.91M
Program expenses99%
Admin / overhead1%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$92K
Grants paid out$580
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$422K
Cash$383K
Investments$0
Liabilities$48K
Net assets$374K
Liquid reserves0.4 mo
5 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +198.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOUGLAS SILVER | Vice President | 40 | $85K |
board members · 5
- GINELLE PENNYCOOKE — FINANCIAL SECTY
- JEANIE CARSTENSEN — Treasurer
- KATE PECK — Trustee
- STEVE BUTMAN — President
- STEVE GURSKY — Secretary
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- 200+ retail partners Partner — Collaborates with over 200 retail partners to source food through rescue and donation
- All Souls Church Partner — Hosted weekly food distributions during the early stages of the organization's work.
- All Souls New York Partner — Hosts weekly Monday night pantry distributions in partnership with Gotham Food Pantry.
- Bushwick Houses Partner — Partner organization in Brooklyn receiving fresh produce for underserved residents.
- Butterfield NYC Partner — Local business that donates excess food to Gotham Food Pantry at the end of the day.
- City Harvest NYC Partner — Provides rescued food deliveries for distribution by Gotham Food Pantry.
- Classon Community Fridge Partner — Community fridge network that receives rescued food from Gotham Food Pantry to stock its public fridge.
- Dough Doughnuts Partner — Local business that donates excess food to Gotham Food Pantry at the end of the day.
- Dyckman Houses Partner — Partner organization in Upper Manhattan receiving food donations to serve residents.
- Food Donation Connection Partner — Partnered with to rescue surplus sushi from Whole Foods locations in Manhattan
- George Washington Houses Partner — Food distribution partner in East Harlem providing 24-hour access to healthy food.
- Goop Kitchen Partner — Partnered with Gotham Food Pantry to rescue excess meals from staff training events at its Williamsburg location.
- Monday Night Hospitality Partner — Provides hot meals at Monday night distributions hosted at All Souls New York.
- NYCHA Partner — Delivers food directly to NYCHA communities through tenant-led pantries and distribution hubs.
- NYCHA Dyckman Houses Partner — Collaborated with resident leaders and tenant association to install and maintain a community fridge.
- NYCHA Gowanus Houses Partner — Collaborates with Gotham Food Pantry to distribute rescued produce to residents and the surrounding community in northwest Brooklyn.
- NYPD Partner — Collaborates with NYPD through the Mercy Kitchen Coordinator to support food insecurity initiatives.
- New York State Government — Collaborates with New York State to connect individuals to SNAP benefits through state systems and services.
- Pick A Bagel Lex Partner — Local business that donates excess food to Gotham Food Pantry at the end of the day.
- Robin Hood Foundation Funder — Provided an emergency grant to install a community fridge at the NYCHA Dyckman Houses.
- Schaller & Weber Partner — Coordinated donation and delivery of 10,000 pounds of frozen meat from the butcher to residents in Inwood
- TCS New York City Marathon Partner — Official charity partner for the 2026 TCS NYC Marathon, fielding a charity team to raise funds.
- Whole Foods Partner — Rescues excess meals from five Manhattan locations through food donation partnership
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.
- Client-Centered Food Distribution 152 orgsmethodology: client_choice_modelBy customizing grocery bags based on individual kitchen access, dietary restrictions, and preferences, we improve food utilization and preserve client dignity because personalized choice increases relevance and reduces waste.shared approach: Client-Choice Model →
- Community-Led Food Justice Initiatives 152 orgsmethodology: community_led_solutionsBy empowering residents to lead and sustain their own food distribution operations, we foster long-term food security because local leadership builds ownership, trust, and program sustainability within communities.shared approach: Client-Choice Model →
- Food Rescue and Redistribution Model 30 orgsmethodology: food_rescue_modelBy rescuing surplus food from retailers, warehouses, and community sources, we reduce food insecurity and environmental waste because this approach simultaneously increases access to nutritious food for underserved populations and prevents edible food from being landfilled.shared approach: Food Rescue and Redistribution →
- Community-Partnered Distribution Network 22 orgsmethodology: community-partnered_distributionBy partnering with resident councils, faith leaders, mutual aid groups, and local retailers, we increase equitable access to food in high-food-insecurity areas because trusted community networks enhance outreach, engagement, and cultural relevance of distribution efforts.shared approach: Network Amplification Model →