Fighting Hunger With Fresh Food

In these hard economic times, the Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger is playing a vital role in making sure needy families and their children in Bedford-Stuyvesant have access to a free bag of healthy groceries.

The program was founded 12 years ago by Dr. Melony Samuels, after she learned that 23 percent of Bed-Stuy's population suffered from diabetes and, further, had limited access to affordable fresh food. 

By taking a holistic approach, the program has helped many local residents get their health back on track by offering healthy food alternatives, some of which hails from two fruit and vegetable gardens right behind the building

In the program's earlier days, it received help from a local church. But its needs grew quickly. Eventually, the program was awarded a few grants to keep it going, enabling it to become the super pantry it is today. 

The program, run primarily by volunteers, was serving 50 families when it started. This number soon expanded to 350. Last month, the organization hit an all-time high, serving 14,500 people on Thanksgiving. 

The program offers exercise and nutrition classes, as well as cooking demos. Today, Samuels refers to the Campaign Against Hunger as a one-stop-shop for personal empowerment, offering training, food stamp enrollment, help with finding housing, as well as a plethora of other services aimed at helping the community to succeed. 

"People come in with no food, so they appreciate what we give them and always want more," says Willie Louallen, a volunteer for almost three years.  "I enjoy hearing their stories and meeting new people."

"I have nice experiences here," says one food pantry patron Renay Lynch, as she reaches for cans of beans. "I like coming, getting the stuff they give out. I take it home and use it." 

Others are still outside, braving the cold to wait for their turn to shop. "This is my second time here, the first time I came, the line was too long, I couldn't wait. Today, the line is much shorter," said Shafi Rivera. He points to a street sign blocks down, "the line went all the way down to there last time."

Samuels is concerned for the upcoming month, as they never expected the high turnout they received on Thanksgiving. They weren't prepared for the large crowds and as a consequence, ended up depleting most of their resources.

The Campaign Against Hunger foundation has grown so large, and the holiday months are proving to be a challenge. "The demand is so great, but the funding is dwindling," said Tamara Dawson, program manager. With need for more food on the rise and Christmas around the corner, the foundation is scrambling to fill their pantry and is guiding people to their website to make donations.

Despite its challenges, the organization still finds inspiration in its daily work.  Samuels reflects on children learning for the first time how vegetables grow and how they marveled at the freshly sprouted zucchini in the garden. She talks about the elderly feeling elated at their ability to walk with less trouble, after attending exercise classes, as well as people of all ages learning the power of healthy eating.

Both Samuels and Dawson agree, seeing community members go from receiving to donating is a shining moment. "I like watching our customers coming back and helping others, they'll say things about how when they were having a tough time, we were there to help, and now they want to help others."

The organization is planning a few trips to local hair salons for opportunities for the women to get their hair done as well as a children's Christmas party and a day for Grandparents to come to pick out some Christmas gifts for their grandchildren. 

Even when times are tough "the thought of helping people and allowing them to go home with the necessities… knowing we can help is enough," Dawson says.

Dr. Melony Samuels was selected as a winner of the 2010 Brooklyn Do Gooder Award