The Campaign Against Hunger

What began in a church basement serving 50 families has grown into one of Brooklyn’s most expansive anti-hunger organizations. Today, The Campaign Against Hunger, founded by Dr. Melony Samuels, serves more than 1.5 million individuals, distributes more than 20 million meals and serves over 27 million pounds of food to community members in need annually.

For Dr. Samuels, providing food to those who need it most has always been about ensuring people have consistent access to the food and support they need to navigate daily life in our country’s largest and most expensive city.

“Our mission is to empower our neighbors to lead healthier, more productive lives by addressing the root causes of poverty. Through nutritious food access, education, and resources, we foster independence and self-sufficiency.” Dr. Samuels explains.

Today, that work spans food distribution centers, a mobile pantry, online food ordering systems, youth development programs and four urban farms across Brooklyn. The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH) has grown from once handing out prepacked bags of groceries to a choice-based model where families can select their own food in ways that feel dignified and empowering.

When COVID-19 reshaped how communities accessed necessities, the organization was prepared with an online ordering system that allowed families to safely access food without waiting in crowded lines.

During that time, TCAH opened an 11,000 square foot warehouse transforming their operations and allowing them to serve more families, more efficiently, at a moment of unprecedented demand.

Behind that rapid response and growth is a team made up of the communities they serve.

“Our team is from the community,” Dr. Samuels says. “They believe in the mission. They are stakeholders in the community. They will roll up their sleeves and work weekends if that’s what it takes.”

Many staff members once stood in line for food themselves. Today, they are helping neighbors access the same support.

Like many nonprofits serving essential needs, TCAH is navigating significant financial strain, including the loss of millions in federal funding. For an organization that refuses to turn families away, those losses are deeply felt. But instead of scaling back, the organization has continued to show up for every family that walks through their doors.

At a critical moment, Brooklyn Org supported TCAH by awarding a two-year general operating grant, offering stability and the ability to continue supporting their neighbors who rely on them.

“When we saw the amount, the entire team rejoiced,” she says. “It’s just-in-time funding that allows us to continue executing the work and ensure families get food.”

The support from Brooklyn Org is ensuring TCAH maintains operations in neighborhoods where food insecurity remains high, reinforcing the role of community-based organizations in meeting urgent local needs.

Looking ahead, Dr. Samuels envisions Brooklyn’s first ecosystem food hub, a space that would expand access to healthy food, create jobs and provide a welcoming atmosphere for families. The hope is for the hub to not only distribute food but serve as a community anchor where neighbors can come together and gather.

Through a comprehensive model that integrates food access, benefits enrollment, workforce development, and urban agriculture, TCAH meets communities where they are while addressing the root causes of food insecurity.

And in neighborhoods across the borough, that work continues one family at a time.

This story was written by Victoria Liverpool.