Brooklyn Community Services

A night to remember! 💙 🌺

Last night, we had the joy of celebrating 160 years of Brooklyn Community Services at the beautiful Palm House at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Together, we honored Elizabeth Christensen for her continued commitment to our community, reflected on BCS’s legacy of service, and celebrated the programs that continue to support Brooklynites every day, including Food for Families and our education programs.

To our guests, donors, partners, supporters, and friends: thank you for showing up, giving generously, and celebrating this milestone with us. We hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we enjoyed sharing it with you.

And to our incredible vendors, thank you for helping make the night feel so special. We are so grateful!

Event Planners: Second Bolt
Host: Phil Taitt
Venue: Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Florist: Stems Brooklyn, Stems Brooklyn Weddings
Roaming Photo Booth: Firework Photo Booth Co
Honey Favors: Bushwick Kitchen
Catering: Union Square Events
Photographer: Paul Martinka
Steel Band: Steel Sensations
Strings: Etsu Violin

The BCS Clubhouse held its annual Economic Expo this month, bringing participants together for a day of learning, connection, and community resources.

In partnership with BCS PROS, Sea Rise, and our Outreach team, Clubhouse participants had the opportunity to learn more about the programs and services available across BCS and to engage in meaningful conversations about financial wellness, community support, and pathways to greater stability.

A special thank you to our participating BCS teams for helping make this year’s Economic Expo a meaningful experience for our Clubhouse community. 💙

May was a beautiful month for BCS’s Food for Families distributions! 💙

Brooklynites ditched their coats this month and joined us across the borough to receive free bags of farm-fresh groceries from across our distribution sites.

With demand continuing to grow, we’ve decided to increase the number of food bags available in Coney Island and are working on ways to better meet the need at our other locations.

This work would not be possible without our Food for Families Coordinator, Angie Chait, our incredible volunteers who help each distribution run smoothly, and our wonderful partners at Brooklyn Supported Agriculture.

We’re looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces next month! Swipe to the end to view June’s distribution schedule.

We were grateful to be invited to BMI and New Mountain Capital's Night of Music and Giving at Radio City Music Hall.

Members of BCS's Gary Klinsky Children's Center attended the event celebrating 25 years of New Mountain Capital with performances by Christopher Jackson, Yolanda Adams, John Fogerty, and more.

Congratulations on 25 years of impact and leadership, New Mountain Capital! What a powerful celebration of philanthropy, music, and community.

A beautiful day, a meaningful cause, and a community walking together. 💙👟

Our Clubhouse and CHAMP programs were proud to participate in this year’s NAMIWalks NYC in support of mental health awareness, advocacy, and connection.

We’re excited and grateful to be part of a future where people feel seen, supported, and reminded that they are never alone.

Still shining a light on moms, caregivers, and the beautiful bonds that hold our communities together. 💙

In celebration of Mother’s Day, our Fatherhood Program at Prospect Plaza Community Center in Brownsville hosted a special photoshoot for community members and staff while creating space for families to pause, be celebrated, and capture memories with a professional photographer.

Moments like these are more than just an activity for the day; they are a reminder that community care can look like support, connection, joy, and experiences that families can carry with them for years to come.

Take a look at a few of the beautiful portraits from the day. ✨

✨ BCS STAFF SPOTLIGHT! ✨

This month, we shine a spotlight on Nahshon Outten, a teacher at PS 156. Mr. Outten has been with BCS for three years and is an asset to both his fellow teachers and the students they serve.

What lesson does Mr. Outten hope to leave with his students? “One lesson that I hope my students carry with them is the importance of the who, the what, the where, the when, and the why (5 W's). Information is important, and I hope, if nothing else, they think about this long after they leave my classroom.”

Thank you, Nahshon, for the incredible work you’re doing at PS 156, and to all the teachers who work so hard to make sure our students are prepared for the future. At BCS, you’re always appreciated.

Support your local Brooklyn soccer teams, AND BCS, when you buy tickets to a Brooklyn Football Club match. Every ticket purchased through our special link supports our programming, which serves more than 14,000 Brooklynites each year.

Catch a match this month at Brooklyn FC's home field at Maimonides Park in Coney Island.

⚽ Saturday, May 16 at 7 PM vs. Hartford Athletic
⚽ Sunday, June 7 at 3 PM vs. Portland Hearts of Pine

Whether you’re planning a night out with friends, a family outing, or just looking for a fun local experience, this is an easy way to show up for Brooklyn, on and off the field.

Grab your ticket -> https://linktr.ee/wearebcs1 #551775560

Summer is coming quickly, and we are excited to host a FREE summer camp for your K-5th-grade kiddos!

All campers will be provided with snacks and meals daily. Additionally, campers will be able to participate in sports, arts & crafts, field trips, academic support, and more camp favorites.

Sign up for one of our THREE camp locations:

☀️ Seth Low Cornerstone (137 Belmont Ave.)
To sign up at Seth Low, contact: 718-495-8301 or [email protected]

☀️O'Dwyer Gardens Cornerstone (2945 West 33rd St.)
To sign up at O'Dwyer, contact: 718-310-5677 or [email protected]

☀️Farragut Cornerstone (228 York St.)
To sign up at Farragut, contact: 347-296-2728 or [email protected]