Brooklyn Bridge Initiative

Community Update: Food Share Program

We’d like to acknowledge the one week end of our recent Food Share.
Thank you to everyone who came out and to our incredible volunteers who made it possible. 🧡

At this time, the Afro Caribbean Cultural Center Inc and Brooklyn Bridge Initiative will not be continuing food shares. We hope that another agency will soon provide updated information about continued food distributions in the near future.

We also recognize and feel the weight and gravity of the current delay in SNAP/EBT disbursements, and we understand how deeply this impacts families and neighbors across our community, especially before the holidays. Please know that you are not alone; we see you, we care, and we’re working to share resources and information that can help bridge this difficult time.

We remain committed to the well-being of our Brooklyn neighbors and city at large and will continue sharing updates as soon as we receive them.

Attached you will find information on local resources for food pantries, shared by State Representative Geraldo Reyes Jr.

Always check with 211ct.org as well as Waterbury Food Insecurity and Resource Group

With gratitude and solidarity.

📢 Important Announcement – Last Day of Foodshare Distribution at Duggan School!

The Afro Caribbean Cultural Center Inc and the Brooklyn Bridge Initiative will host their final Connecticut Foodshare Distribution at Duggan School in Waterbury, CT on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 9:15 AM to 10:00 AM sharp.

Participants 16 and older—please bring your own bag to collect your share.
✅ Only one time through the line so there’s enough for everyone in our community.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our incredible volunteers, including our in-house staff, community members, and our amazing partners from Thomaston Savings Bank , MacDermid, Waterbury Hospital, United Way of Greater Waterbury , and the City of Waterbury's Litter and Beautification Commissioners RonaeMason-Craig and Marianna Codianni.

Stay tuned to our posts for updates on future Foodshare sites.

Together, we continue to nourish and uplift our community! 💚

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📢 Anuncio Importante – ¡Último Día de Distribución de Alimentos en la Escuela Duggan!

El Centro Cultural Afro Caribeño y la Brooklyn Bridge Initiative realizarán su última Distribución de Alimentos de Connecticut Foodshare en la Escuela Duggan en Waterbury, CT, el martes, 28 de octubre de 2025, de 9:15 a 10:00 a.m. en punto.

Los participantes de 16 años o más deben traer su propia bolsa para recoger su porción.
✅ Solo una vez en la fila, para asegurar que haya suficiente para todos en nuestra comunidad.

Agradecemos sinceramente a todos nuestros increíbles voluntarios, incluido nuestro personal, miembros de la comunidad y nuestros maravillosos socios de Thomaston Savings Bank , MacDermid, Waterbury Hospital, United Way of Greater Waterbury , y los Comisionados de Limpieza y Embellecimiento de la Ciudad de Waterbury, Ronae Mason-Craig y Marianna Codianni.

Manténganse atentos a nuestras publicaciones para actualizaciones sobre futuros lugares de distribución de alimentos.

¡Juntos seguimos alimentando y fortaleciendo a nuestra comunidad! 💚

Grand Rising Mi Gente!

It's windy and there may be a drizzle here and there, but we'll be at Duggan School for our CT Foodshare Distribution!
956 Bank St. Waterbury CT

Bring your bag and an 🌂
9:15 am to 10 am sharp!

Stay blessed!

We're looking for volunteers for this Tuesday, October 14, 2025 from 8:45-10:15. Sign Up Link in comments below.

The truck is here, folks have already lined up, volunteers are coming! We start distribution at 9:15 am and end at 10 am SHARP! Come grab some food!

The Brooklyn Bridge Initiative is proud to support students and researchers from the University of Connecticut as they study how vacant lots, biodiversity, and land use affect our neighborhoods here in Waterbury. This work connects directly with our efforts to make the Brooklyn Neighborhood greener, cleaner, and safer for everyone.

We invite our neighbors and community leaders to participate in two ways:

----- Join the Waterbury Focus Group-----
📍 Silas Bronson Library, Community Room
📅 Saturday, September 13, 2025
⏰ 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
👉 Register here: https://s.uconn.edu/LBpublicfocus

📝 Take the Survey
CT residents, share your experiences and ideas around vacant lots, abandoned properties, and community land use. Your feedback will guide future solutions!
Deadline: September 30, 2025
👉 Take the survey here: https://s.uconn.edu/LBsurvey

💡 Together with UConn, we can shape a stronger, more vibrant Brooklyn neighborhood. Please share widely and help spread the word!

📎 Two flyers are attached below — one for the focus group and one for the survey.

🌟 Brooklyn Neighborhood Block Party! 🌟

Hey Brooklyn Waterbury neighbors! 🎉

Join us for our Block Party on Saturday, August 16th from 11 AM to 2 PM at Waterbury Adult Ed (11 Draher St.). Come celebrate with live DJ music, games, and FREE entry for everyone!

📣 Calling all local organizations! We have tabling opportunities available if you’d like to share resources with our Brooklyn neighborhood residents — don’t miss this chance to connect with the community!

For more info or to reserve a table, contact Vicky at
📞 203-437-8058 ext. 3
📲 Text 203-759-8824
📧 [email protected]

Let’s come together and make this a day to remember! ❤️

🌟 ¡Carnaval de Barrio en Brooklyn! 🌟

¡Hola vecinos de Brooklyn en Waterbury! 🎉

Acompáñennos a nuestro Carnaval de Barrio el sábado 16 de agosto de 11 AM a 2 PM en Educación de Adultos de Waterbury (11 Draher St.). Celebraremos con DJ en vivo, juegos y ¡entrada GRATIS para todos!

📣 ¡Organizaciones locales! Tenemos espacios para mesas disponibles para que puedan ofrecer recursos a los residentes del barrio de Brooklyn — ¡no pierdan esta oportunidad de conectarse con la comunidad!

Para más información o para reservar su mesa, comuníquense con Vicky al
📞 203-437-8058 ext. 3
📲 Texto 203-759-8824
📧 [email protected]

¡Vamos a reunirnos y hacer de este un día inolvidable! ❤️

🚨Important Update for Our Brooklyn Waterbury Neighbors 🚨

We’re so sorry to share that our Foodshare distribution scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 2025, has been canceled due to a shortage of volunteers and ongoing changes at the Center. We know how much our community relies on these distributions, and we truly apologize for any inconvenience this causes you and your family.

We’re working hard behind the scenes to reorganize and ensure we can continue serving everyone who counts on us.

We’ll be back Tuesday, August 19, from 9:15 am to 10:00 am SHARP, ready to support our community again!

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we navigate these changes together. Please help us spread the word to your friends and neighbors!


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🚨Actualización Importante para Nuestros Vecinos de Brooklyn Waterbury 🚨

Lamentamos mucho informar que nuestra distribución de Foodshare programada para el martes 5 de agosto de 2025 ha sido cancelada debido a la falta de voluntarios y cambios en curso en el Centro. Sabemos cuánto depende nuestra comunidad de estas distribuciones, y sinceramente pedimos disculpas por cualquier inconveniente que esto cause a usted y su familia.

Estamos trabajando arduamente tras bastidores para reorganizarnos y asegurarnos de poder seguir sirviendo a todos los que cuentan con nosotros.

¡Regresaremos el martes 19 de agosto, de 9:15 am a 10:00 am EN PUNTO, listos para apoyar nuevamente a nuestra comunidad!

Gracias por su comprensión y paciencia mientras navegamos estos cambios juntos. ¡Por favor, ayude a correr la voz entre sus amigos y vecinos!