Government Shutdown
Resources for those in need
Find Help: A national resource for finding free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more.
Free Formula Exchange: A national baby formula mutual aid network.
Find Food NYC: A map showing food pantries across New York City.
Food Help Line: Another digital tool for finding local food banks in Brooklyn
Food for Brooklyn: Pantry run by fellow Oaks attendee, Sara Merten
Too Good To Go: A free app that lets users buy unsold, surplus food from cafes, restaurants, food stores, and hotels at a steep discount.
City Harvest: A map by City Harvest showing locations throughout NYC that are currently distributing food, free of charge. Location sites include soup kitchens, food pantries, community fridges, et cetera.
One Love Community Fridges: A map showing the location of One Love Community Fridges, designed and filled by the organization at sites across the city.
Community Fridge Finder: A sometimes-accurate tool for finding local NYC community fridges
Mutual Aid Groups NYC: A tool for finding NYC-specific mutual aid groups
Give
We’re responding to congregant needs as they come in. If you would like to give to the Deacons’ Fund, click here and select Deacons’ Fund in the fund pulldown. You can also give through Zelle, writing “Deacons’ Fund” in the memo.
Some wisdom from food pantry volunteers, if you are looking to make donations elsewhere:
Everyone donates Mac and Cheese in boxes, but it also needs milk and butter, which are hard to get from food banks.
Boxed milk is a treasure. Kids need it for cereal, which they get a lot of.
Everyone donates pasta sauce & spaghetti noodles.
Canned foods should be pop-top or donate a can opener
Oil is a luxury needed for Rice-a-Roni, which they receive in abundance.
Spices, salt, and pepper are a real gift.
Coffee and tea bags are caring gifts.
Sugar and Flour are treats.
Fresh produce donated by farmers and grocery stores is essential.
Seeds are great in the spring and summer because growing can be easy for some.
Rarely is there fresh meat.
Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef.
They get lots of peanut butter and jelly, but need sandwich bread.
Butter or butter spread is good.
Eggs are a commodity!
Cake mix and frosting make it possible to create a child’s birthday cake.
Dishwashing detergent is costly and is always appreciated.
Feminine hygiene products are a luxury, and women will cry over them.
Everyone loves Stovetop Stuffing.
Giving money to established food banks or mutual aid organizations helps them to buy what’s missing and to buy in bulk, usually at lower cost and tax free! So, make a monetary donation wherever you’re able!