Right now, in the face of overwhelming grief, fear, and uncertainty, Brooklyn neighbors are uniting in incredibly inspiring and hopeful ways. Hundreds of partners like you have collectively given over $1 million (and counting) to aid the most vulnerable among us through our Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund.

Because of your generosity, today we are announcing 17 new grants, bringing the total distributed so far to $253,500 to 25 local nonprofits.

Weekly grants continue to fund emergency food aid, immediate financial assistance, and crisis counseling and support, among other urgent needs. Included in this week’s grants are funding for:

• Brooklyn Community Services to hire recently unemployed graduates of the Brownsville Community Culinary Center to cook meals for their vulnerable neighbors

• Day One New York, Sakhi for South Asian Women, and the Shine Foundation to support survivors of domestic violence and dating abuse—both those who are sheltering in place with their abusers and those who are now in emergency shelters

• Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation, Council of Peoples Organization, and Mixteca to establish emergency financial assistance funds for their very low income clients, many of whom are undocumented and will not receive any benefits from the federal government

​See the Full List of New Grants | View All Grants to Date

Funding is reaching every corner of the borough at the most grassroots level—with a focus on our communities of color who are suffering the most right now because of unjust barriers to healthcare, financial aid, and stable housing.

The Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund centers racial and social justice while aiming to be swift and nimble in order to get support to where it is needed most.

In case you missed it, watch last week’s conversation between our President and CEO Cecilia Clarke and VP of Programs and Partnerships Marcella Tillett in which they explain our approach, what we’re learning, and how your generosity is literally saving lives. You can also witness the incredible work of Fund grantee The Campaign Against Hunger in this Brooklyn News 12 report. 

We know that so much more will be needed in the weeks and months ahead. Please consider making a donation today—or pledge a monthly recurring donation—to support the community-based organizations that are critical lifelines during this crisis. 100% of your donation will go directly to high-impact nonprofits on the frontlines. 

Brooklyn COVID-19 Grants: Week 2

After Hours Project: To provide up to date guidance, cleaning and hygiene supplies, and food to vulnerable clients, including older adults and people with compromised immune systems who are homeless, living with AIDS or HIV, have a serious mental illness, or are active substance users.

Brooklyn Community Services: To hire graduates of the Brownsville Community Culinary Center, who have lost their restaurant jobs, to feed vulnerable residents with restricted access to food, including older adults, immune-compromised persons, and persons with intellectual disabilities.

Chinese-American Planning Council: To provide education and advocacy to address anti-Asian harassment, as well as disease prevention measures and support, particularly for vulnerable elderly populations.

Council of Peoples Organization: To provide meals to homebound older adults and a weekly food distribution, wellness calls to our senior center participants, and benefits assistance to low-wage workers.

Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation: To provide very low income families with immediate financial assistance in the form of gift cards to local supermarkets and MetroCards.

Day One New York: To provide virtual supportive services and emergency services to Brooklyn-based survivors of domestic violence and dating abuse, as well as online resources, training, and tools to students and teachers to address spiking rates of tech-based abuse and harm within households.

Diaspora Community Services: To provide food and food vouchers to vulnerable clients including older adults, young mothers, and LGBTQIA youth.

Documented: To provide Spanish-language reporting on the specific impacts of COVID-19 on immigrants—especially those who are undocumented—and to combat the spread of misinformation on WhatsApp. 

Gender Equality Law Center: To provide rapid response legal services to low-wage workers impacted by the Coronavirus—many of whom are women of color and/or undocumented immigrants.

Mixteca: To provide financial relief to indigenous immigrant families in Sunset Park, prioritizing those who have recently lost their jobs as housekeepers, nannies, and restaurant workers.

Reaching Out Community Services: To meet the increasing demand for its Digital Client Choice Food Pantry System, and to match low-income and newly displaced individuals and families with social services, benefits assistance, and emergency items.

Red Hook Initiative: To provide increased translation services, adult and family counseling and screenings, and food distribution via Red Hook Farms.

Sakhi for South Asian Women: To provide social support to South Asian survivors of domestic abuse, as well as safe home delivery of food, direct emergency assistance, and one-time emergency purchases including emergency rent, bill payment.

Shine Foundation: To provide survivors of domestic violence and their families living in emergency shelters with medicine, hygiene products, and diapers, as well as financial advice and support.

The Ali Forney Center: To provide on-site and remote basic necessities, including housing placements and referrals, to-go food, case management, primary and mental health care, vocational and educational programming, and sanitary supplies for runaway and homeless LGBTQ youth.

The Guardianship Project: To support remote safety and wellness checks, as well as emergency food deliveries, for legal guardianship clients who are primarily older adults and individuals with disabilities.

Translatina Network: To provide emergency food access, supermarket gift cards, and essential health and hygiene items to its Latinx and other transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) members.