Community-Led Food Systems

Organizes corporate team-building events in which companies assemble food bags or baskets containing groceries and essential items for distribution to individuals in need.

Hosts an annual golf tournament featuring a shotgun-style round, contests, and meals, with proceeds supporting food outreach programs.

Distributes free, nutritious groceries directly to over 2,000 low-income individuals monthly in Westchester, Putnam, and Fairfield Counties, with deliveries customized to meet dietary and medical needs such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer. The program uses a volunteer-supported model to serve seniors, veterans, families with limited mobility, and the chronically ill.

Develops and expands community-led initiatives to support, promote, and advocate for local food systems on eastern Long Island, NY.

Conducts regular distribution of locally grown and processed food to schools, food pantries, senior centers, and other community partners using refrigerated transport, including ongoing deliveries during and after the pandemic.

Distributed 2,925 meals to the Shinnecock Boys & Girls Club in 2022 as part of local food distribution efforts.

Relies on volunteer support for processing produce during the growing season and for administrative tasks such as data entry and filing.

Runs a 60-acre organic farm producing fruits, vegetables, and livestock for distribution to restaurants, individuals, and hunger-relief organizations, including donations to food pantries.

Provides licensed, equipped kitchen and storage space for small batch food entrepreneurs and farmers to process and store food for sale. This includes operating a shared community kitchen that supports small-scale producers through infrastructure and production space.

Hosts in-person and virtual farmers markets, including a pilot indoor market at 139 Main Road in Riverhead supporting over 40 vendors, and operates pop-up markets through the reopened East End Food Hub.

Processes and freezes surplus produce from local farms using kitchen staff and volunteers, converting over 30,000 pounds annually into value-added products to reduce food waste and support the local food economy.

Operates a café serving food and offering food education to the Stony Brook University campus community.

Highlights and celebrates local growers, producers, and community members through storytelling to promote entrepreneurship and community values.

Funds the completion of commercial kitchen construction and the rebuilding of food aggregation, processing, and distribution programs for local schools and institutional partners through a $5 million state grant.

Includes local producers such as North Fork Seafood as members and vendors at the East End Food Market, and supports small-scale food and craft businesses by creating market access and job opportunities.

Purchases fruits, vegetables, eggs, and milk to supplement donated food and provide healthy food options to needy families.

Advocates for collective land ownership, wealth redistribution, and food sovereignty as part of building equitable and sustainable food systems led by Black communities.

Provides grants, low-interest loans, and financial support to Black farmers and food-based businesses in the Northeast to strengthen their operations, purchase equipment, and improve marketing. Has distributed over $14 million in capital and supported 14 Black food businesses through gifts and loans.