The line wraps around the corner with those in need of food in South Williamsurg.

Volunteers help organize, package and distribute groceries outdoors here weekly. It's an expansion of the food pantry program operated by the nonprofit group called Southside United, also known as Los Sures. 

What You Need To Know

  • To address food insecurity in the community, Southside United set up a weekly outdoor pantry

  • The nonprofit, known as Los Sures, serves an average of 10,000 residents a week

  • Los Sures was founded in 1972 to secure housing on Williamsburg’s Southside

  • It now operates its own farm, hydroponic garden and chicken coop

"When we opened up our pantry the first week after the pandemic, we served about 1,200 people in about two hours,” said Executive Director Juan Ramos. “And that for us was really telling."

Los Sures said it's been serving an average of 10,000 residents a month since the coronavirus crisis hit. The outreach adds another chapter in the 48 year history of this grassroots organization helping to sustain this community.

"During corona, we really had to step up a lot as people have come to us from churches, tenants associations, people in different NYCHA buildings around who we sort of been bringing food to so they could get their neighbors food when they need it, too,” said Los Sures Food Access Manager Zach Williams. 

Founded in 1972 when there was massive disinvestment in Williamsburg, the Latino group took over abandoned buildings to manage and rehabilitate them. A museum dedicated to its efforts is located on the ground floor of a residential building it restored on South 4th Street. It now owns or manages 40 properties in the neighborhood, including a senior housing complex, which also houses its food pantry, a hydroponic garden, a farm and a chicken coop. There are also homemade meals delivered here from local restaurants to help the seniors stay nourished.  

"They're on social security and they get a once-in-a-month check”, said Los Sures volunteer Anthony Medina. “Telling the truth, that really doesn't cut it, you know, with the check because rent, the way it is, the light, the rent by the time they get done they don't have anything left. So this is here to help them feed the children and feed themselves."

"We made sure that our seniors had food on day one,” added Ramos. “We made sure that we reached out and knocked on doors to see if they were impacted by COVID or anything else. We were there to connect them to healthcare or any other services that they need."

That connection includes giving out masks and hand sanitizer, as Los Sures ensures the most vulnerable can continue to count on their community, even in times of crisis.