Dimitri's Drop N Shop Doorstep Pantry
Connect. Contribute. Support. Inspire.
Hi, my name is Dimitri! I'm a curent high school student living on the Lower East Side. I am fighting food insecurity by gathering non-perishables to help feed the hungry in my neighborhood.
Since launching this mutual aid program last winter, I have collected and distributed hundreds of pounds of food for our community.
What motivated me to do this, and why should you help now?
Why Help Now?
The pandemic had a huge impact on food insecurity.
In the last year, over 30% of soup kitchens and food pantries had to close down in New York City due to COVID. Now, 1 in 5 families with kids in NYC regularly do not have enough to eat. And while our city and our economy are opening up, food insecurity from the pandemic is predicted to extend throughout 2022.
What Motivated Me?
The Lower East Side has been hit especially hard.
In response to this growing need for food, the 12th Street Community Fridge and Pantry opened on the corner of 12th and 1st in the spring of 2020, and the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry opened the summer of 2021 on Avenue B and 9th Street.
Moved by what was happening, I started my own mutual aid program last winter to combat hunger in my community. I partner with local programs to get food to those in need. I am inspired by community-initiated projects, neighbors helping neighbors, providing free groceries to food-insecure people and families, through collaboration with the Change Food organization, LES CommUnity Concerns, and the East Village community.
All food in these Community Fridges and Pantries is donated by New Yorkers just like you and me.
How You Can Help
YOU DONATE FOOD and I GET IT TO THOSE IN NEED
I bring the food collected through Dimitri's Drop N Shop Doorstep Pantry to our neighborhood partners, getting your donations to the12th Street Community Fridge and Loisida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry.
Donate Food
If you're in one of the buildings that was fliered, you can bring pantry items to
IN-PERSON FOOD DROP OFF POINTS located in building 541 on the 6th floor and building 451 on the 9th floor.
Donate Funds
If you are unable to make an in-person donation, you can still do lots to help! Go to the DONATE TAB above to find a link to my Go Fund Me page with listed prices for the most useful and commonly requested pantry items. WITH YOUR DONATIONS, I WILL PURCHASE AND DELIVER THE ITEMS YOU DESIGNATE.
If you prefer to not choose specific items, I am happy to do that for you too!
Connect With Me
If you have any questions about my mutual aid project, or would like to get some help setting up your own drop off point, please feel free to email me at the email listed below.