Local Dollars Fuel Local Impact
The recent government shutdown impacted the lives of low-income communities in New York City in achieving access to essential services. Food insecurity is an existing societal problem that disproportionately impacts communities of color. Given the affordability crisis happening in the city, visits to soup kitchens and food pantries have been at their highest levels. Not to mention the shutdown was the longest ever recorded, lasting 43 days. This shutdown had impacted recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), leading to November benefits not being issued. This affected about 1.8 million New Yorkers who depend on the program for relief of food insecurity.
To combat the food insecurity crisis this fall season, Society House and local partners such as the East Village Design District Foundation, STIIZY, Ruby Farms, Find, Select, Golden Garden, Camino, Marijuana Farms New York, Revert Cannabis, and Grassroots, to demonstrate what community investment can look like. With planned monthly community meal distribution for September through December, and a dedicated Thanksgiving activation happening on November 25, 2025, the coalition is dedicated to channeling local dollars and labor to serve culturally resonant hot meals to thousands of New Yorkers in underserved communities. As Dilir Nihal shares through his work with both Positivity Persists and the EVDD Foundation, the mission is bigger than any single program. As director of Positivity Persists, he helps lead a nonprofit committed to uplifting New Yorkers from all backgrounds by supporting their personal growth and strengthening community well-being. Through the EVDD Foundation, he guides efforts that promote the arts, nurture cultural expression, and deepen community connection through inclusive public programs, meaningful exhibitions, and accessible educational opportunities.
As he puts it: “...people are not receiving their paychecks and struggling for food, this is just a start, this is just a small start as to what we’re really doing.”
Funding
Society House plays a central role in powering these monthly community distributions, standing alongside dedicated local partners and an incredible team of passionate volunteers who show up consistently to donate their time. Together, this coalition has been able to support roughly 700 individuals each month, impacting more than 1,400 people across local neighborhoods in September and October alone.
The upcoming Thanksgiving Activation continues this momentum, with a shared commitment to providing hot meals to at least 350 individuals. “The goal right now is to feed 1,300 people through the end of the year, between now and then,” says Steven Etienne, President of Society House, whose leadership and partnership remain vital to this work.
At the heart of this collaboration is trust, with partners seeing their contributions in action, volunteers understanding the impact firsthand, and communities receiving direct relief with full transparency. With growing support and shared dedication, this coalition is positioned to expand its reach and strengthen its impact even further.
Culturally Rooted
The decision to partner with Estrella Latina is what makes this operation special. Estrella Latina is a minority-owned, women-led small business that produces culturally resonant meals for these distributions. Rather than relying on bulk-prepared food or outsourcing catering, Society House focused on directing its dollars to a business that reflects the community itself. Not only does this ensure that the meals are nutritious, but it also delivers familiarity and comfort. These are important factors for individuals navigating food insecurity. A local from Flatbush, Brooklyn, where the October distribution took place on the 24th of the month, expressed, “Very, very good. For the food to give away to people like me, that don’t have”.
Coalition of Volunteers and Ethical Measures
The foundation of these activations is the volunteers from Society House and partnered companies. With Society House leading the coordination in planning logistics, scouting sites, organizing schedules, and partner companies recruiting staff volunteers, and amplifying outreach, it reflects the importance of community building on a local level — a kind of engagement that builds connection.
The sites are chosen by focusing on neighborhoods with documented food insecurity, while also ensuring that the sites safely accommodate volunteers, participants, and media, without disrupting service. The coalition is intentional in guaranteeing an ethical and transparent approach to measurement. Impact of the initiative is measured through reconciled meal counts against catering invoices, on-site tallies conducted by volunteers, and limited demographic notes (only when feasible and appropriate). This highlights the dignity of worth of the persons receiving the meals while accurately reporting the number of meals and individuals reached and affirming that receiving a meal never requires a surrender of personal information.
With current budgets in mind, the estimated ceiling cost per meal is $5.70. A finalized number would be known after reports are concluded, after each distribution. The figures will provide clarity to the funders and partners, instilling the aim that the contributions will go the extra mile and revealing the power in these operations to keep dollars, jobs, and cultural relevance within the communities.
Upcoming
As mentioned, the Thanksgiving activation is coming up on November 25, 2025, with the same principles in mind: local dollars, partners, and preparation, fuel local impact. This will signify a continuation that dignity and care should be available all year round.
The distribution of hot meals to underserved communities manifests adaptability. A scalable funding model opens doors to future funding opportunities for larger-scale activations, and locally-prepped meals strengthen local economies. This is a model designed for growth.
