PS 261 CARES
MUTUAL AID
SNAP/EBT FUND
The community needs all of us
The ongoing government shutdown means SNAP/EBT benefits for November are unlikely to be issued. This means some 42 million people across the country will not get crucial grocery assistance. Here at PS 261, we want to help our community — caregivers, students, and staff —continue to have access to the resources they need. In the face of this crisis, the Social Action Committee, in collaboration with PS 261 Cares, is organizing an urgent mutual aid initiative so that anyone who needs help can ask for it confidentially, and anyone who can give can do so. We are also collecting and distributing information about community fridges, food pantries, and other neighborhood mutual aid efforts.
What is Mutual Aid?
Mutual aid is cooperation for the common good.
Mutual aid is where people in a community come together to support one another, collectively meeting each other’s needs. It can be about food sharing, but it isn’t limited to that—it can also be about resources such as childcare and housing. The idea of solidarity, rather than charity, underpins mutual aid. Resources are unconditionally shared, unlike charity, which is often conditional. Charity comes from the top down. Solidarity is horizontal and ditches hierarchy.
Here at PS 261 we have PS 261 Cares - our mutual aid fund that has served the school community for 10+ years.
Give what you can
If you are a community member who can contribute to the fund, please use give below.
Please choose “261 Cares Mutual Aid” in the drop down menu during checkout. PTA will earmark it for the mutual aid fund. This will qualify as a tax-deductible donation.
While any amount is appreciated, here are some things to consider. To cover average benefits for one person for one month, you would need to contribute $188.
Donate today
Select “261 Cares Mutual Aid” from drop down
Ask for what you need
If you're a community member in need of assistance, please fill out this form.
Or, if you need support, you can simply contact:
Parent Coordinator Heather Weston-hweston@schools.nyc.gov
Principal Erica-edavis3@schools.nyc.gov
Pupil Accounting Secretary Osdilia Caban-ocaban@schools.nyc.gov
Afterschool Coordinator Ricky Merisier-ricky@ps261brooklyn.org
All information provided will be kept confidential.
Neighborhood Resource map
261 Cares FAQs
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The amount we are able to give will be dependent on the amount of funds we can raise and the need we identify. Someone from the school will follow up with specifics.
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We will put all of the funds raised into our “261 Cares” fund. This is our school's mutual aid fund that provides gift cards to families during the holiday season, as well as metro cards and support for other immediate needs throughout the year.
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Please reach out to the Social Action Committee if you are interested in getting involved.
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Please see below for more resources, including information about food pantries, community fridges, and neighborhood mutual aid. PS 261 will also begin its annual toy and food drive ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday – more information to come. We’ll also place a map in the lobby showing locations of pantries, fridges, and food distribution sites.
FOOD BANKS, COMMUNITY FRIDGES & OTHER MUTUAL AID RESOURCES
Find Food NYC: Map showing food pantries, etc.
https://www.foodbanknyc.org/find-food/#find-food-map
Find Help: Find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more. https://www.findhelp.org/
Food Help Line: https://www.foodhelpline.org/regions/brooklyn
Free Formula Exchange: Baby Formula Mutual Aid Network
https://freeformula.exchange/
Too Good To Go: a free app that lets users buy unsold, surplus food from cafes, restaurants, food stores, and hotels: https://www.toogoodtogo.com/
City Harvest: https://www.cityharvest.org/food-map/
One Love Community Fridges: They have a map with all community fridges: https://www.onelovecommunityfridge.org/fridges
Community Fridge Finder: https://fridgefinder.app/brows
Neighborhood Community Fridges
Brooklyn Heights Community Fridge
124 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
One Love Community Fridge 3
Van Alen Institute
303 Bond St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Classon Community Fridge
543 Grand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Neighborhood Food Pantries & Kitchens
CHIPS Community Meals: 200 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217
Serves meals from 9 AM - 4 PM. https://www.chipsonline.org/kitchen
CHIPS Mobile Pantry @ Gowanus NYCHA Houses: 426 Baltic Street, Gowanus, NY 11217
Free Groceries Tuesdays 10-11:30. https://chipsonline.org/pantry/
Saint Ann’s Food Pantry: 157 Montague Street
Food Pantry Every Wednesday, 10:30 am until noon: https://www.stannholytrinity.org/pantry/
Ingersoll Fresh Pantry: 177 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Groceries on Saturdays 11 AM - 1 PM: https://www.onecommunitynyc.org/freshpantries
Masbia of Flatbush Soup Kitchen and Pantry: 1372 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11230. SOUP KITCHEN: Monday through Thursday, you can sit in our dining room for a fresh hot meal without an appointment from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. FOOD PANTRY: You can pick up raw groceries for your entire family by appointment only, once every 7 days. To schedule an appointment, text "FOOD" to 726879*
https://www.masbiaflatbush.org/getfood
Google Doc with other Brooklyn Food Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1VNIARMYKcL4slvVajz6mgE_Qj0g8zqYywmnGugtMWDo/mobilebasic?urp=gmail_link
Wisdom from Food Pantry Volunteers
Everyone donates Mac and Cheese in boxes, but it also needs milk and butter, which are hard to get from food banks.
Boxed milk is a treasure. Kids need it for cereal, which they get a lot of.
Everyone donates pasta sauce & spaghetti noodles.
Canned foods should be pop-top or donate a can opener
Oil is a luxury needed for Rice-a-Roni, which they receive in abundance.
Spices, salt, and pepper are a real gift.
Coffee and tea bags are caring gifts.
Sugar and Flour are treats.
Fresh produce donated by farmers and grocery stores is essential.
Seeds are great in the spring and summer because growing can be easy for some.
Rarely is there fresh meat.
Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef.
They get lots of peanut butter and jelly, but need sandwich bread.
Butter or butter spread is good.
Eggs are a commodity!
Cake mix and frosting make it possible to create a child's birthday cake.
Dishwashing detergent is costly and is always appreciated.
Feminine hygiene products are a luxury, and women will cry over them.
Everyone loves stovetop stuffing.
Bonus tip: CASH enables the Food Bank to buy what's missing and buy in bulk.