4th Annual “Knowing Our Community”: 109 Neighbors Seen, Served, and Celebrated

At Spreading Love Foundation Inc., meaningful change begins with understanding the people we serve.

This month, we proudly hosted our 4th Annual Knowing Our Community event—an initiative designed not only to provide essential resources but also to listen, learn, and strengthen relationships with the neighbors who make our community vibrant.

The event brought together residents, community organizations, healthcare providers, and volunteers with one shared goal: ensuring that individuals and families have access to the support they need to live healthier, more secure lives.

Our Impact

In just one day, we connected with more than 109 community members, ranging in age from 13 to 72 years old. Participants included low-income families, children, seniors, students, unemployed individuals, and retired residents representing Hispanic, African American, and African communities—the very heart of the neighborhoods we proudly serve.

Each conversation, referral, and resource shared represented another step toward building a stronger, healthier, and more connected community.

What We Accomplished Together

Thanks to the generosity of our partners and volunteers, attendees received access to a wide range of practical resources and support, including:

• Fresh food bags distributed to families, children, and seniors to help ease food insecurity.
• Over 200 pounds of clothing provided to community members in need.
• 25 books distributed to encourage literacy and lifelong learning.
• Eight job applications completed on-site, helping individuals take meaningful steps toward employment.
• Ten Medicaid and Medicare referrals connecting residents with essential healthcare services.
• Essential wellness supplies distributed, including 40 hand sanitizers, 50 water bottles, and 50 food packs, supporting the health and well-being of attendees.

While these numbers tell an important story, they only capture part of the impact. Behind every statistic is a family with fewer worries, a senior feeling supported, a young person discovering new opportunities, or a neighbor gaining access to services they may not have known were available.

The Power of Partnership

Community transformation is never the work of one organization alone.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our incredible partners whose collaboration made this event possible:

• Christ Apostolic Church International
• Black Health
• Morning Star Assembly
• Anthem
• NYC CARE
• COPE
• New York Public Library
• Morris Heights Health Center
• The Children's Village
• New York Department of Housing

Their commitment, expertise, and willingness to serve alongside us demonstrate what can be achieved when organizations unite around a shared mission. Together, we created an environment where community members could access food, healthcare information, employment resources, educational materials, and compassionate support—all in one welcoming space.

More Than Services—We Came to Listen

The heart of Knowing Our Community has always been listening.

Beyond distributing resources, we spent time hearing directly from residents about the challenges they face and the support they hope to see in the future.

Many attendees expressed a desire for more frequent community events, expanded access to nutritious food, and additional job readiness and workforce development opportunities.

One senior shared a moment that deeply resonated with our team:

"I've lived here 12 years and this is the first time I felt like someone actually asked me what I need."

Those words remind us that genuine community work isn't just about providing services—it's about creating spaces where people feel valued, respected, and heard.

Looking Ahead

The success of this year's event reinforces both the needs within our community and the power of collaborative action.

The feedback we received was clear: our neighbors are looking for continued access to healthy food, employment opportunities, healthcare resources, and compassionate, respectful support. We are committed to responding to that call.

At Spreading Love Foundation, we believe that lasting impact begins with listening, grows through partnership, and flourishes when communities are empowered to thrive.

We are deeply grateful to every volunteer, partner organization, donor, and community member who made this year's Knowing Our Community event such a meaningful success.

We listened.

We served.

We learned.

And together, we continue building a healthier, stronger, and more connected community.