Food Rescue and Redistribution

Facilitated over 256,000 customer transactions in 2025 through nonprofit grocery markets.

Distributes over $2 million in food and essential resources weekly, with a projected total distribution exceeding $100 million in 2026. Recovers an average of 138,000 pounds of food weekly, providing approximately 115,000 meals weekly.

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.

Conducts outreach and education to promote healthy lifestyles and raise awareness about food waste and global food shortages.

Deploys food rescue and delivery operations in response to emergencies such as hurricanes, government shutdowns, and economic crises. Activities include pop-up distributions, repacking events, and transporting food to affected communities, including delivering over 7 million pounds after Superstorm Sandy and distributing food to federal workers during shutdowns.

Conducts data analysis through the FeedNYC initiative to track changes in food insecurity, including documenting an 84% increase in monthly visits to food programs compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Operates a public-facing food map that displays locations offering free food across New York City, including food pantries, community fridges, and Mobile Markets. Also manages a self-enrollment system for volunteers to support food rescue, distribution, nutrition education, and advocacy efforts.