Announcement
DK Kinard, Food, Agriculture, and Community Engagement Liaison
Photo: Anwar Danishyar. IRC NY
On Saturday, October 4, over 150 community members traveled from the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn to gather at our New Roots 12th Annual Harvest Fair. We are so grateful for the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) co-hosting this event with us, alongside 18 local partners.
The sun beamed on our farm as community members, IRC NY clients, and supporters participated in face painting and fun crafts, including DIY honey infusions, flower coasters, and sign-painting. Folks were able to purchase food at our market stand and snag their own New Roots T-shirt.*
... We are overjoyed to announce that we had three lucky winners of our Harvest Fair raffle! Prizes included an IRC-branded tote, aprons, T-shirts, and stickers, NYBG-branded water bottles, and a one-year membership gift to NYBG!
Community members enjoying the Harvest Fair
Photo: Anwar Danishyar. IRC NY
Overall, the Harvest Fair was a great success! Our New Roots team also gave a tour of the farm with an update about our active New Roots fundraising campaign. Sheryll, Jamir, and our community steward Pepper shared insight about our latest harvest, supplies, and funding goals for 2026.It was lovely to see everyone harvesting fresh produce at the farm and taking home their own infused honey jars. We are so grateful for this wonderful turnout and hope to see you at our Bronx Farm and Queens Garden soon!
Thank you to our partners!
This event could not have been possible without our partners that tabled and shared resources: BGU, Kelly Street, Ariva, Council Member Althea Stevens, Hispanic Federation, Big Reuse, GreenThumb, BronxWorks, Destination Tomorrow, Montefiore, NYCity Planting, NYRP, BRA, Catskill Agrarian Alliance, and B-Blossom that prepared a delicious vegan and omni meal. We'd also like to give a special shoutout to Sunny, our former New Roots Agriculture Assistant, who performed a fantastic DJ set!
Jamir Muñoz-Sanchez, Food & Agriculture Assistant
Photo: Anwar Danishyar. IRC NY
Our #New Roots Strong Campaign continues
Thank you to all of you who have donated to our campaign. Since our New Roots emergency campaign launched on July 9, 2025, we have been able to raise $850 from contributions by the community. We hope to be able to raise more to replenish our funding for staffing, supplies, and general operations at New Roots and continue serving over 300 community members across both sites. To help us raise funds for our campaign and learn more about New Roots, please reach out to Maggie Panetta at maggie.panetta@rescue.org and Malin Evertsz Mendez at malin.evertszmendez@rescue.org.
* T-shirts will continue to be available at our weekly Farmer’s market for a limited time. All T-shirt proceeds go towards our New Roots program.