Brooklyn Community Fridges

Overview Mission Initiatives

Organization Overview

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Location

Brooklyn , New York

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Organization Mission

BK Community Fridges came to be in the Summer of 2020, where a group of organizers and community members came together to solve our people's most immediate needs. With the Covid-19 pandemic showcasing how truly unsupported the people of Brooklyn are by their local government we decided to address an issue close to us all, food disparity. Food disparity is the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active and healthy life. When we found ourselves protesting for the lives of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean among dozens more, we recognized not only was the list of names continuous but we needed to start at the nucleus of our communities. Without sustenance, how can we fight our oppressors and establishments that seek to displace and erase us? BK Community Fridges was created as a direct action to combat white supremacy in our neighborhoods. Our goal is to place community fridges, dry food pantries, and host food drives throughout Brooklyn's marginalized areas, specifically affecting Black and Brown people. Our first fridge is located in Crown Heights and was a collaboration with Brooklyn Combine, our upcoming fridge in Flatbush will be a collaboration with Bolt Architecture. Through the process of orchestrating these events, it's our mission to amplify Black and Brown businesses and create jobs wherever possible. Additionally, we are in the planning stages of building our very own farm in Brooklyn, which will provide FREE food to all who are in need.

Audience Served

Marginalized communities -- Black and Brown people in Brooklyn, New York

Cause(s) Supported

Community & Economic Development

Sustainability

Health & Nutrition

Organization Initiatives

These are the Initiatives that

Brooklyn Community Fridges

has listed on the Verbate marketplace for funding.

Food Market & Fridge Installation

Initiative Description

We at Brooklyn Community Fridges put on food markets in which community members of the neighborhoods we impact are able to shop for food at no cost. Everything from dry goods, fresh produce, canned goods and prepared meals are available at the markets. The reason for these events is to empower community members to learn about new foods and allow them to chose what foods they take home. So many organizations give out leftovers, food that's about to expire and prepackaged meals not taking into consideration that because we're dealing with food insecurity it doesn't mean we don't have allergies, it doesn't mean we don't have likes and dislikes, or just foods we simply don't like. Living as a low-income individual shouldn't take away your ability to choose what you eat. That's where we come in. Our markets allow people to take home exactly what they want, this is also a small effort we make to stop food waste. We've also discovered these organizations distribute foods that folks might not want or have never cooked with, and eventually that food also goes to waste. Here folks take home what they want and leave the rest! Not to mention all the produce is purchased at local markets to continue to further support our local businesses in whatever way we can. All fresh, chosen and bought with intention. Our community is something we plan for, not an afterthought. In addition, we cater to our unhoused neighbors who don't have access to kitchens or a home to warm up meals in, and have cooked meals which are individually packaged available to them as well. The funds we ask for cover the materials and labor for the protective structure and the food purchasing for the markets.