Why They’re Food Heroes: SUN (which stands for “Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods”) Brooklyn, led by co-founder Jay Solly, partnered with World Central Kitchen and New York State Assemblywoman Maritza Davila to get food into the hands of needy Brooklynites. Within the first few months of the COVID-19 lockdown, the partnership delivered more than 150,000 meals to Brooklyn residents, healthcare workers, and first responders. During the 2020 holiday season, they created a holiday coalition with numerous other organizations in North Brooklyn to ensure that residents had enough food to celebrate with their families. They continue to hand out food boxes in North Brooklyn twice per week.
Background: In the Fall of 2018, three Brooklynites (Barb Pangilinan, Ricardo Lopez, and Jay Solly, recognized that their community in North Brooklyn had room to improve its sustainability. Their mission is to advance the green economy by building sustainable neighborhoods, particularly in low- and middle- income communities.
Work: Beyond food relief work, SUN Brooklyn also has invested in the community by organizing job fairs, promoting music and the arts, and engaging volunteers in community cleanup work. All of the work done by SUN Brooklyn aims to be environmentally sustainable.
Location: North Brooklyn
Awards, Praise and Honors: SUN Brooklyn, along with founder Jay Solly and board member Nicky Wei, received honorable citations from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams in his list of 186 “Brooklyn COVID-19 Heroes.”
Website: Sustainable United Neighborhoods, Facebook, Instagram
Resources and References:
- North Brooklyn Holiday Relief Coalition Feeds Thousands (SUN Brooklyn)
- COVID-19 Food Relief Throughout Brooklyn (SUN Brooklyn)
- SUN 1 Year Recap (SUN Brooklyn)
- A Taste of What Food Pantries Are Doing to Combat NYC’s Mounting Hunger Crisis (Bedford + Bowery)
- Dr. Fauci, Others Honored As ‘Brooklyn COVID Heroes’ For Work During Coronavirus Pandemic (ABC 7 Eyewitness News)
