Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Media provided by Jennifer Tashman and edited by Hallie Rosenzweig ‘25
Grassroots Grocery, which has attracted the support of the Grace community on several charitable fronts, partners with city schools to alleviate food insecurity in New York City. Unequal access to fresh food is a devastating problem for many families, but Grassroots has provided them with vital resources.
A primary goal of Grassroots Grocery is to provide countless more families with access to produce. Grassroots operates more than 30 community-run food distribution sites across The Bronx and Harlem, serving as a virtual resource by saving more than 850,000 pounds of fresh produce each year and generating up to $900,000 in economic benefits.
Working with Grace and so many other NYC schools, Grassroots distributes fresh produce to more than 1,400 households in New York City every Saturday to create self-reliance within local communities concerning food security. One feature that sets Grassroots Grocery apart from other non-profit organizations is its focus on community events and engagement. Grassroots even holds weekly “Produce Rescue Parties” (at least two with the Grace community) and has set up refrigerators in the community to reduce food wastage and offer fresh fruits and vegetables to those in need. There is an upcoming event between the Grace Church School Community and Grassroots grocery on April 5th. These are spreading exponentially, transforming lives, and bringing permanent change throughout the city.
Since 2024, Grace Church School has partnered eagerly with Grassroots Grocery to advance its mission. During the Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium Week, a “sandwich party” community service event at the high school united students and volunteers to assemble sandwiches donated to local community fridges. Grace packaged and distributed 1,000 sandwiches in 2024. This is set to become an annual tradition.
On Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, more than 50 members of the Grace Church School community collaborated with the Sustainability Team and Grassroots to host a Produce Party in the Bronx that distributed 13,126 pounds of fresh produce to local institutions. The triumph of this event was brought about through the unfaltering efforts of devoted volunteers, who strove towards preventing food waste.
Looking ahead at what is to come, the next major event in this long-standing partnership is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2025, when another Produce Party is organized to advance the mission of bringing fresh produce to under-resourced neighborhoods.
The unique feature of Grassroots Grocery is the vision and leadership of its founder, Dan Zauderer. Mr. Zauderer’s accessible and energetic approach to leadership cultivates a setting conducive to collaboration and community involvement, enabling volunteers and participants to connect profoundly with the organization’s objectives.
Antonella Dominguez, the Diversity Program Coordinator and Assistant to the Office of Community Engagement at Grace, pointed out the enthusiasm and commitment of Grace students, including Serena H. ‘27, Jasper J. ‘27, Gus H. ‘27, and Olivia C. ‘27 (one of the authors), who are involved in volunteer work. All of these students helped donate to the “sandwich party.”
Their dedication is evidence of the profound effect of Grassroots Grocery’s efforts and the developing sense of collective responsibility among citizens to ensure the well-being of food distribution facilities. The safe distribution of surplus food is the next phase in this valuable partnership, and that effort is already in progress. This program will redistribute school cafeteria food effectively so those who rely on it can still get healthy produce. The continued partnership of Grace Church School and Grassroots Grocery is more than a meal; it’s about creating stronger, more visible communities through partnerships.
After talking to a representative from Grace’s food service, Cater-to-You (CTY), MiChelle Carpenter, the school’s operations director, announced a major breakthrough in the school’s partnership with Grassroots Grocery. She wrote that “food that has not been served or not been heated fully (aka food that has been prepared but has not left the kitchen) can be shared” with the team from Grassroots Grocery. Also, sandwiches, cold salads, and whole fruit can be donated.
Ms. Carpenter and the team of high school students hope to plan twice-weekly pick-ups, Wednesday and Friday, coordinated by CTY, after 2pm. The first set of foil pans with lids are on site and ready to be filled once the program begins. . Students may need to fundraise to cover the cost to purchase pans going forward.
The food sharing with the Grassroots team could begin as soon as the week or two following Spring Break.
Serena, on the high school’s most active volunteers, was first introduced to Grassroots Grocery during last year’s MLK Symposium. She was highly inspired by the “neighbors helping neighbors” slogan and was immediately attracted to the cause and mission of the program. Serena formed the Grassroots Grocery club earlier in this school year with the intention to be part of Grassroots’ goal of eradicating food insecurity in New York City. “The hands-on district work really puts you face-to-face with the difference you’re making in your community” Serena notes. One of Serena’s favorite aspects of volunteering is going to the Produce Parties, where she and other volunteers deliver fresh produce to communities and neighborhoods that would not otherwise receive it.
Serena finds these experiences stimulating and rewarding, with a sense of connection and impact. For Serena, the tangible nature of the work is particularly important, as it provides her with a firsthand perspective on the difference being made. In addition to her volunteer efforts at the Produce Parties, Serena also helps with food rescue efforts at Grace Church School. She has been working towards getting the catering companies to donate tons of food that can be safely distributed to Grassroots Grocery. “There is a real difference being made, and you being there matters,” Serena said.
It is difficult to get past problems like liability, but Serena is determined to get past those barriers in an effort to help cut down on food waste and assist communities in need. To Serena, Grassroots is special because it is about community and making a real-world difference. The focus of the program on real, tangible service, rather than just accumulating service hours, gives Serena a sense of purpose and obligation that is far more profound.
Dan Zauderer, the founder of Grassroots Grocery, began his journey as a middle school teacher in the Bronx, where he witnessed this impact of food insecurity on students and families. In response, he started a community fridge to bring produce closer to those in need. This grew into what is now known as Grassroots Grocery. Dan emphasized that food access isn’t just about distribution; it’s about bringing people together.
When asked about his partnership with Grace Church School, Dan expressed how much he values the level of engagement he sees with the entire Grace community. He praised Serena, Gus, and Jasper for their enthusiasm and dedication to the mission. “They really connect with the work,” Dan said, noting Grace’s stellar level of engagement.
Looking ahead, Grassroots Grocery aims to double its produce distribution by 2026 and expand to more locations. Dan encourages the Grace community to continue supporting the cause by volunteering at Produce Parties and helping with fundraising. “It’s incredible how young people are raising thousands of dollars,” Dan added, emphasizing the importance of creative, community-driven efforts.
For anyone looking to get involved in food rescue and produce distribution, Grassroots has two events coming up in the first week of April. On Thursday April 3, 2025, at 7:30PM EST The Student Food Recovery Task Force will be hosting a zoom call to bring kids from different schools together to share about how they can ensure school food is not going to waste. Additionally, on Saturday morning, April 5, 2025, the next Produce Party will be held at 1750 East Gun Hill Road Bronx NY 10469, Gun Hill Commons. These two opportunities are great ways to get involved with the Grassroots cause, even if you have never volunteered before!
The lasting connection between Grace Church School and Grassroots Grocery goes beyond providing meals; it’s about cultivating more visible, impactful communities through collaboration.
Olivia Calatozzo ‘27 and Chloe Frischman ‘27, the authors, are staff writers for The Grace Gazette.