DNAinfo: Bed-Stuy Food Pantry Hosts ‘Mock Shop’ Fundraiser for Hunger Awareness

By Camille Bautista | October 21, 2015 9:54am | @CamBautista

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — A local charity is giving donors a glimpse into its clients’ lives with a mock shopping event at a Brooklyn pantry.

Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger will host its “Mock Shop” fundraiser in November, allowing supporters to donate funds while participating in the organization’s “shopping experience,” according to BSCAH executive director and founder Melony Samuels.

Donors can visit the SuperPantry at 2004 Fulton St. to see how the nonprofit operates, walking through the site the same way a client would.

The emergency food pantry is unique, Samuels said, as it runs similarly to a supermarket by letting clients choose items according to their preference.

Each fundraising visitor will receive a shopping card, Samuels said, and can pick up fruits, vegetables, grains, meats and more.

Every item is representative of a case. If a donor decides to take an apple to the checkout counter, they can choose to pay for a case of apples that BSCAH will then provide for its serviced families.

“You don’t actually leave with anything, but you leave with the gratitude knowing you might have fed at least 20 families,” Samuels said.

“This gives donors the opportunity to step into the lives of our clients for 15 minutes.”

As the holiday season approaches, proceeds will help benefit individuals at a crucial time, the founder said.

“It’s usually one of the biggest crunch times for us in respect to more families coming to seek additional food for Thanksgiving,” Samuels said.

“We are bracing ourselves that this year will be no different. We’ll probably see an increase over and above everything else.”

BSCAH provided groceries for 22,000 people last November, according to the organization.

The Nov. 5 event will also showcase BSCAH’s renovated space on Fulton Street, along with its expanded location at 15A Hull St., where the nonprofit hosts its healthy initiatives and senior programming.

The BSCAH Mock Shop will be held on Nov. 5, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information or to donate, visit http://bedstuyagainsthunger.org.