Collective Focus Resource Hub Inc.

Collective Focus is a Women, POC and LGBTQIA+-led 501(c)3 nonprofit fostering resourcefulness and neighborhood empowerment through weekly food distributions, daily free clothing, artist support and cultural events.

In 18 months, our all-volunteer team redistributed $500,000 worth of free food and clothing at our space for 30,000 Bed Stuy and Bushwick residents.

This has been a huge year of growth as we've moved from start-up to our established 501(c)3. Our work has received coverage in Vogue, we’ve been recognized as a grantee of the Mellon Foundation, and we gained official subcontractor status with the NYC Community Food Connection Program and United Way.

We moved our Community Fridge food rescue program to the next level, releasing the FridgeFinder App to expand communication and support to the 134 NYC Community Fridges, each of which provides 1,000 meals per month.

While our work arose in response to the economic impacts of the pandemic, the need for community resource connection has only risen with the recession. Food insecurity in NYC has grown 46% since 2020, and with the influx of migrants to New York, our new neighbors urgently need warm clothing this winter.

We are doing our best to provide these resources, but with the funds to support our team leadership and invest in our food and clothing programs, our capacity to meet the huge needs will vastly expand this year.

With our Mellon Foundation grant, we gained stability as we can now pay our team leadership and comfortably afford the rent at our community space. Donations from this Holiday fundraiser will support our additional operations costs so that our staff can focus this year on improving and expanding the impact of our work! Some of the items we are specifically fundraising for are:

With your support, we can not wait to see where this year takes us. This work is urgent, and our team is deeply committed to continuously expanding our ability to serve and build up our community through mutual support.