This post is the first of our 4-part series uplifting our year-end fundraising campaign! Each week, we’ll tackle one of the interconnected issues that drive our work — and this week is all about Food Access. Regardless of whether you are able to contribute financially, we hope this series will bring you into deeper connection with these collective issues and inspire you for the path ahead.

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“One in eight Americans reported they didn’t have enough food to eat in the past week, hitting nearly 26 million Americans, a threefold increase from the most comparable pre-pandemic figure,” according to Census Bureau survey data collected in late October and early November.

Close to home, a recent report published in the New York Times found that 1.5 million New Yorkers cannot afford food.

The pandemic continues to escalate an already devastating food crisis in this country.

These are staggering statistics — and they reflect a systemic failure that is not new, nor temporary.

“We call it an emergency food system, but it’s a 50-year emergency,” says Noreen Springstead, executive director of WhyHunger. Meanwhile, as the stock market reaches record highs, we need to confront the question, how does hunger persist in this country?

The many answers to this question are what led to the founding of Rock Steady, and what continues to drive our work.

From Day 1, we’ve built our farm around the belief that everyone should be able to access high quality produce, and the understanding of how far we are from living in that reality.

Fresh and delicious food is a basic human right.

It’s easy to feel immobilized by the scope of the injustices in our food system. While we work towards policy change and long term repair, we need to keep working to meet the immediate needs in our community.

At Rock Steady, we do this through our Food Access Fund and sliding scale CSA, which provide no-cost or subsidized vegetables to low-income households, including communities of color, LGBTQAI+ folks, seniors, families with young children, and people living with serious health concerns (such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes and cancer).

What makes our model unique? There are many approaches to the problem - from government, policy makers, nonprofit orgs, mutual aid efforts - we need everyone in this fight! What’s different about our work is the ways it goes beyond feeding people. We believe in a food access model that also cares for our planet, the farmers who are growing the food (especially queer, BIPOC farmers), and communities we feed.

Quite honestly, there is just something special about queers feeding queers. BIPOC folks feeding BIPOC folks. These connections make for a long lasting and unique impact on all the humans involved, as well the soil we care for. There is a big difference between our approach and the corporate food aid/pantry/charity model. Both addressing hunger, both impactful, but it is important to know the difference, especially when choosing where to put your financial support.

Can we really make an impact?

Here are just a few notes we received this season from solidarity share recipients:

“Participating this season changed my life.”

“My solidarity share is a life saver. Makes a difference. Thank you.”

“As a recipient of your free shares program, I’m so grateful and thankful. I can’t even express how much it means to me and helps me. You are warrior farmer angels.”

“I'm in tears. The vegetables were so amazing. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!”

“I would like to express my gratitude for your solidarity shares. They make such a difference when otherwise it is so difficult to have access to local fresh produce, food. You make it seem like the world is not just an unjust place.”

Looking ahead, we know that the demand for food relief continues to grow, especially as initial pandemic response funding dwindles. If you are able to chip in to support this work, now is the time!

With the support of individual donors and organizations in this community, we accomplished so much in 2020. In fact, 57% of our total food grown was distributed to low-income communities and our fully subsidized “solidarity shares” increased 80% from 2019. In case you missed it last week, you can read more about the season’s wins right here.

Looking ahead. . .

In 2021, we have an ambitious goal to grow and distribute 125 Solidarity Shares (20 weeks of no-cost fresh produce) for individuals and families facing food insecurity.

We know that the systemic issues we are working with require dedication, ongoing investment and a commitment to keep showing up. We’re ready to get to work, but we need financial support to make it happen.

As you make your 2020 year-end giving decisions, we’d be honored if you’d consider supporting our continued work towards food and justice for all.

We are in it for the long haul. Can we count on you alongside us in this fight?

MORE WAYS to get involved:

Our 2021 CSA is open for registration! We offer sliding scale pricing and flexible payment plans. If you’re able to pay a higher price on the sliding scale, your membership will allow a lower-income community member to pay a little less.

STAY TUNED, and BRING A FRIEND!

If you know someone who might be interested in joining these efforts, please forward along! This post is Part 1 of our 4-week year-end fundraising campaign! Next week, we’ll share about climate and caring for our land.

Regardless of whether you are able to contribute financially, we hope this series will bring you into deeper connection with these collective issues and inspire you for the path ahead.