Part of the Food Policy Community Spotlight Series
Name: North Brooklyn Angels
What they do: North Brooklyn Angels is a mobile soup kitchen that distributes 1,500 packaged meals per week across eight different locations. The meals are served hot from the back of trucks and vans that stop at each location, or through local partners such as churches. Several times a year, they also hold a drive for baby products, which they distribute in partnership with the WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) program.
How they do it: With only two full-time and two part-time employees, the backbone of North Brooklyn Angels are their volunteers, many of whom sign up through the DEED volunteering app. The Angels receive about 500 unique volunteers per year, and about a third of those become regulars. Fifty to sixty volunteers assist in preparation, packaging, and distribution of meals each week.
Latest project/campaign: In addition to the mobile meal sites, the organization also delivers meals to seniors at home on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Major Funding: Most funding comes from individual donors, with some contributions coming from the Food Bank of New York City.
Profit/nonprofit: North Brooklyn Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Annual Budget: $300,000
Interesting fact about how it is working to positively affect the food system: North Brooklyn Angels operate a truck outfitted with a mobile kitchen and steam tables from which many of their meals are served. The bright blue truck with its massive white logo, has become a recognizable sight in neighborhoods across northern Brooklyn. As of summer 2022, the truck can be seen via Google Streetview parked outside of the main location on 1 Havemeyer Street.
FACT SHEET:
Location: The main location is at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church at 1 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, but distribution centers are scattered across northern Brooklyn including Greenpoint, Williamsburg, and Bushwick. Please see here for a map and schedule.
Core Programs: Meal service, infant product drive.
Number of staff: 4
Number of volunteers: 500
Areas served: Northern Brooklyn
Year Started: 2017
Director: Kendra Chiu
Contact Information:
To reach leadership, kendra@northbrooklynangels.org
To schedule volunteer groups of 5 or more, volunteer@northbrooklynangels.org
To volunteer as an individual or small group, sign up on DEED
Social Media: Follow the North Brooklyn Angels on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for updates on current work and emerging priorities.
