Help Riders4Rights Continue to Feed Families Every Month

Hello Community!

Hi, my name is Brandon John-Freso, a co-founder here at Riders4Rights. Our organization is comprised of a group of ~20 individual friends who get together monthly with one sole mission, to clothe and feed our communities of BedStuy and surrounding areas of Brooklyn for free. Our monthly Giveback Day on the second Saturday of every month is a mutual aid event that sees on average 100-200 plus deserving families provided with very much needed groceries and food for free. We have been in operation as an organization for 4 years now, and have been providing to the community for about 3.5 years without ever missing a date, be it rain, snow or shine. We are extremely grassroots and most of what we do comes out of our own pockets: Often the cost of the groceries themselves for the community, usually about $1000 if we are unable to procure a food rescue donation. Storage expenses for our clothing, tables, and other supplies. Transportation for donation pickups throughout the month, and many other costs. We do not receive government funding and as the economy declines, so too does our ability to foot many of these bills ourselves. We remain hopeful and diligent, but understand the dire need within our community and thus the importance of seeking support when we (and the community at large need it) - to that end, we are asking for any donation you can manage, these funds will go directly and solely to the **direct** use of the community. We do not take salaries or use funds for anything personal and our records are open to the public upon request. Any and all donations, dollar for dollar will be used to pay for food, procure clothing donations and run our services and processes which are integral to providing aid. We appreciate you taking the time and hope to see you out there if you're able, otherwise whatever you manage today is a kindness enough.

Thank you,

Brandon and the Riders.

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Where do the funds go?

Monthly Budget

Produce (purchasing from local wholesaler):

~$1000 a month

Uhaul Rental:

~$150

Gas:

~$15

Monthly Cubesmart Storage for supplies:

~$150

Water / Snacks for Volunteers:

~$50

Cleaning Supplies & Supporting Materials (repairing broken distribution tables etc)

$50

Total Monthly Budget: $1,415

Total Yearly Budget: $16,980

Detailed Summary

Riders4Rights is a Black-led mutual aid organization operating out of BedStuy, Brooklyn. Established in 2020, for the past four years we have dedicated ourselves to conducting monthly Community Giveback Days, where we distribute an array of essential items, including fresh produce, shelf-stable groceries, clothing, hygiene products, baby supplies, books, plants, and seasonal necessities. Our efforts primarily support the Afro-Caribbean and Latinx residents of BedStuy, Crown Heights, and Weeksville. Strategically located near busy public transit routes, our distributions are ideally placed to serve those living in nearby low-income housing and the surrounding areas. Each month, we successfully aid over 100-200+ families, distributing approximately six tons of food, directly addressing the immediate needs of our community and enhancing their quality of life.

Riders4Rights has faced a critical challenge in continuing our vital Community Giveback Days due to a recent discontinuation of support from a partnering food pantry. As of last month, the grant funding that they were receiving ran out, therefore suspending our access to free groceries for our distributions indefinitely. Previously, this partnership allowed us to distribute food obtained through the federal EFP program, which we are directly ineligible to access. Last month, the grant that facilitated this arrangement expired, cutting off our primary source of free groceries. Historically, during gaps in free food access, we have purchased supplies from local produce wholesalers, a practice we intend to continue temporarily. Currently, our own funding will sustain these purchases for the next few months. However, with this fundraiser, we seek financial stability that will enable us not only to maintain our distributions but also to explore and establish a more sustainable, long-term solution for food access. This aid is critical for ensuring that our Giveback Days can continue without interruption, ultimately providing consistent support to over 1,200 families annually who rely on these resources for their nutritional and basic needs.