Advancing Food Access Through Donations with Dignity

At Handsome Brook Farms, our commitment to advancing food equity and supporting sustainable communities is stronger than ever. This Giving Tuesday, we’re proud to share the progress of our Donate with Dignity initiative, which continues to make a tangible impact in addressing food insecurity across New York City.

With more than 1.7 million New Yorkers facing barriers to accessing fresh, nutritious food, the need is urgent. Over the past year, in collaboration with One Love Community Fridge, Rethink Food, and other community partners, we’ve distributed over 200,000 eggs, supporting underserved families and transforming fresh ingredients into dignified solutions for hunger.

One Love Community Fridge Scales Impact Through Innovation

This year marks a transformative milestone for our partners at One Love Community Fridge. They have opened their first brick-and-mortar location in Brooklyn, creating a permanent space to expand their outreach and deepen their impact. This location serves not only as a resource hub for the community but also as the launchpad for an exciting new partnership with Oko Farms, a local aquaponic farm with a shared vision for food access and sustainability.

Through this collaboration, eggs were available for purchase at Oko Farms’ summer and fall markets, which provided a fresh, high-quality option for local families. Additionally, Oko Farms pickled eggs and prepared egg salad to stock One Love’s community fridges, offering convenient, ready-to-eat meal options for those in need.

In the fall, Oko Farms’ lease was unexpectedly terminated due to impending development, leaving them in immediate need of a new farm site for 2025 and beyond. Since 2021, Oko Farms has transformed a vacant lot in North Williamsburg into a thriving urban farm, producing sustainable food, enhancing biodiversity, and providing aquaponics education and job opportunities for the local community. These types of community spaces are essential in urban areas like New York City, addressing food security and climate challenges while fostering connection and resilience. Oko Farms is now seeking a new location to continue this critical work—learn more about their relocation needs and how you can help here.

Rethink Food Turns Fresh Ingredients Into Nourishment

At Rethink Food’s commissary kitchen, eggs are being transformed into thousands of meals that serve families and individuals across New York City. From popular recipes like egg salad and meringues to protein-rich staples, these meals not only meet basic needs but deliver care and dignity to those they reach. Rethink Food’s ability to innovate and adapt ensures that every egg contributes to meaningful change, providing nourishment and hope to those experiencing food insecurity.

Get Involved

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to join us in creating brighter futures. By supporting the Donate with Dignity initiative, you can help expand access to fresh, nutritious food for those who need it most. Here’s how you can make an impact:

Donate: Contributions fuel critical initiatives that deliver fresh food to underserved communities.

• Donate to Rethink Food 
• Donate to One Love Community Fridge
• Donate to Oko Farms

Volunteer: Your time and effort can make a lasting impact by supporting local food initiatives, helping to prepare meals, stock fridges, or assist with community programs.

Support Oko Farms: If you know of a potential space where Oko Farms can rebuild, your connection could help sustain their essential work.

At Handsome Brook Farms, we believe that small farms with big hearts can drive meaningful change. By working together, we can empower local organizations, strengthen food systems, and bring dignity to every table.