Why They’re Food Heroes: The Brooklyn immigrant community quickly united and coordinated support for their neighbors in need, forming a Facebook group called the Brooklyn Immigrant Community Support-Mutual Aid (BICS). The group distributes groceries and hot food to Brooklyn families in need, ensuring food boxes are culturally appropriate for the people receiving them. Furthermore, the volunteers do home-delivery of food to community members unable to pick up food in person.
Background: The group, co-founded by Devon Morales and Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, was formed in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. When many New York City residents lost their jobs and turned to government-sponsored financial relief, many immigrants were left unable to receive benefits such as SNAP, unemployment insurance, and federal stimulus checks.
Work: BICS has continued their food distribution efforts into 2021, operating weekly food box distribution sites in five sites across South Brooklyn. At these sites, community members can get more than just food—volunteers will also offer information and resources about the COVID-19 vaccine options, ranked-choice voting in New York City, and more.
Location: South Brooklyn
Awards, Praise and Honors: BICS was profiled by Bklyner for their tremendous efforts to feed Brooklynites at the beginning of the pandemic. Furthermore, their GoFundMe page has raised more than thirty thousand dollars to use on purchasing food and other resources for the community.
Resources and References:
- Neighbors Give Back To Their Own Southern Brooklyn Immigrant Community (Bklyner)
- Faith-based Mutual Aid Flourishes Amid Pandemic, Protests (Associated Press)
- The Renegade Priest Helping Undocumented People Survive the Pandemic (New Yorker)
