Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Good Neighbors Brooklyn?
A: Good Neighbors Brooklyn is a community initiative responding to the needs of our city through acts of hospitality, service, and partnership. We work with local churches, mutual aid groups, and nonprofits to support asylum seekers, migrants, housing-insecure neighbors, and families in need.
Q: What are your main goals?
A:
Loving Our Neighbors – honoring the dignity of every person and supporting those journeying from insecurity to family.
Collaborating With Our Community – serving alongside neighbors in humility and partnership.
Transforming Our City – practicing welcome and radical hospitality as an act of justice and renewal.
Q: What did you do during the cold winter months?
A: We partnered with churches and mutual aid groups to collect and distribute coats, warm clothing, and footwear to migrant families at Floyd Bennett Field. We also built and shared cold & cough kits to help families fight seasonal illnesses.
Q: How do you address food insecurity?
A: Since 2022, we’ve donated over 4,000 sandwiches to CHiPS. We also partner with mutual aid groups to provide food to new shelters and have built relationships with men at the Hall St. homeless shelter.
Q: What community meals have you hosted?
A: In April, we co-hosted an Iftar meal with Resurrection Brooklyn and Gowanus Mutual Aid for asylum seekers at Hall St. shelter. We also host ongoing monthly Community Dinners with Touching Land and Roots Cafe.
Q: How do you support people experiencing homelessness?
A: In June, when homelessness hit a 20-year high, we created Homeless Care Kits with essentials like body wipes, snacks, first aid, and resource lists.
Q: How do you help children and families?
A: In August, we partnered with Mixteca to equip over 500 kids with backpacks, school supplies, and period kits at a Back to School Fair. We also organized arts, crafts, and activities.
Ongoing Initiatives
Q: What is Safe Families?
A: Safe Families connects volunteers with families in crisis. Our team is supporting a single mother and exploring Safe Families Plus, which helps unaccompanied minors eligible for SIJS (Special Immigrant Juvenile Status) find guardians and pathways to citizenship.
Q: How do you support mothers at CHiPS?
A: We host monthly dinners and parenting workshops for housing-insecure single mothers at CHiPS, building trust and long-term relationships.
Q: What are Community Dinners?
A: They are monthly meals in partnership with Touching Land and Roots Cafe, designed to welcome new neighbors and foster belonging.
Upcoming/Projected Initiatives
Q: What is the Language Exchange Program?
A: Starting September, we’ll launch English conversation classes for unaccompanied minors (ages 18–21, SIJS-eligible) in partnership with Mixteca, EV Loves, and Safe Families. Shared meals will help build relationships and pathways toward guardianship.
Q: What is Running, Rights, and Land?
A: A pilot running club with Touching Land where asylum seekers and TGC members run together, learn about undocumented persons’ rights, and finish by participating in a race.
Q: What is the Middle School Youth Sleep Out?
A: A November collaboration with TGC’s youth group and Covenant House. Students will design a fundraiser, experience a “sleep out,” and grow in awareness of youth homelessness.
Q: What holiday programs do you run?
A:
Thanksgiving at Mixteca – our 3rd annual meal for asylum seekers.
Holiday Free Store – partnership with Camp Friendship to host a free holiday market for families in need.
Good Neighbors Brooklyn | Fall 2024 Calendar
9/14 CHiPS sandwiches
9/25 VOCAL-NY Gala
9/27 Running Group Starts
9/27 Safe Families Training at Liberty Church
9/28 GNB Fair + coffee hour
10/6 VOCAL-NY Dinner
10/12 CHiPS sandwiches
10/12 Mentorship info
10/17 Sleep Out
10/19 Good Neighbors Brooklyn Dinner
10/23 CHiPS Gala
Nov VOCAL-NY Dinner
11/9 Brooklyn Run
11/9 CHiPS sandwiches