Reaching-Out Community Services

What Reaching-Out Community Services does

Reaching-Out Community Services, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, that provides food assistance, social services, youth employment, and adult education programs to financially disadvantaged individuals and families across the five boroughs of New York City, with operational concentration in Brooklyn. Founded in 1989 by Tom Neve, the organization began by distributing meals and clothing from a single van and has grown to serve more than 14,000 low-income families annually. Its core product is the Digital Client Choice Food Pantry System (DCCFP), a proprietary bilingual touch-screen platform that enables clients to self-select food items, reducing waste and providing a more dignified distribution experience than traditional bag-based pantries. Complementary programs include a Homeless Meal Program with tear-open/flip-top packaging, a From Farm to Table fresh-produce initiative, Nutritional Education workshops, SNAP enrollment assistance, a Summer Youth Employment Program in partnership with NYC DYCD, a Family Support Fund for beds and furniture, Level-UP tutoring, and F.E.A.T. emergency response. The organization also runs three recurring annual events — Operation Backpack & Supplies, Operation Gobbler Giving (Thanksgiving), and Operation Christmas Smiles (now in its 20th year).

The organization's business model is a nonprofit donation- and grant-funded operating model with no fees charged to beneficiaries. Revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and tiered monthly recurring gifts of $10–$100), foundation grants (Guru Krupa Foundation, Stern Family Foundation, Northfield Bank Foundation, Barker Welfare, Mary Alice Fortin, Maximus, Keith Haring, SSASSY, Bob's Discount Furniture, Howard E. Stark), corporate sponsorships (Bay Ridge Subaru/Operation Warm, Rotary Club of Verrazano), and government program funding through EFSP, TEFAP, HPNAP, and EFAP. In-kind food resources are supplied by Food Bank for NYC, City Harvest, Just Food, United Way, the NYS Department of Health, HRA, and the NYDS Brooklyn Enforcement Team. Distribution is primarily walk-in at the Brooklyn pantry location, supplemented by homeless meal delivery and weekly farm-produce distributions; the GTM motion is community-led, relying on partnerships with local schools, religious institutions, and government agencies plus word-of-mouth referrals.

Name

Reaching-Out Community Services

Legal name

Reaching-Out Community Services, Inc.

Website

https://rcsprograms.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Reaching-Out Community Services is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1989, that operates a Digital Client Choice Food Pantry alongside social services, youth employment, and education programs to serve more than 14,000 low-income families annually across New York City.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Assistance and Social Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Food pantry services
• Community social services
• Nonprofit hunger relief
• SNAP enrollment assistance
• Youth employment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual monetary donations received through website, PayPal, and mail. Donations support the general operation and specific programs.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations including Guru Krupa Foundation, Stern Family Foundation, Northfield Bank Foundation, and others to support programs and operations.
3. Government Programs: Support from city, state, and federal programs including Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), TEFAP, HPNAP, and EFAP.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Reaching-Out Community Services provides food assistance and complementary social services to low-income individuals and families in Brooklyn and the five boroughs of New York City. Its flagship offering is the Digital Client Choice Food Pantry System, a bilingual touch-screen platform that lets clients select their own food items with dignity, supported by a Homeless Meal Program, From Farm to Table fresh vegetable distribution, nutritional education workshops, SNAP enrollment assistance, summer youth employment, a Family Support Fund for essential household items, and three annual community events (Operation Backpack & Supplies, Operation Gobbler Giving, and Operation Christmas Smiles).

Product overview

Reaching-Out Community Services operates a multi-program community services organization serving low-income individuals and families in Brooklyn, NYC. The core offering is the Digital Client Choice Food Pantry System (DCCFP), a touch-screen based software platform that enables clients to select their own food items with dignity. This is supported by the Homeless Meal Program for those without storage/cooking facilities, From Farm to Table fresh produce distribution, and Nutritional Education workshops. Additional programs include SNAP enrollment assistance, Summer Youth Employment, Family Support Fund for furniture/beds, C&D Pet Supplies, Level-UP tutoring, and F.E.A.T. emergency assistance. The organization also runs three major annual events: Operation Backpack & Supplies, Operation Gobbler Giving (Thanksgiving), and Operation Christmas Smiles. Founded in 1989, the organization serves over 14,000 low-income families across Brooklyn.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Digital Client Choice Food Pantry: High-tech food pantry system using touch screens that allows clients to choose their own food items, reducing food waste and providing dignified service.
• Operation Christmas Smiles
• Operation Gobbler Giving
• Operation Backpack & Supplies

Products and services

• Digital Client Choice Food Pantry System (DCCFP) A bilingual touch screen-based food pantry system that allows clients to select their own food items, reducing food waste and providing dignified service compared to traditional bagged programs; designed for low-income individuals and families in Brooklyn and the five boroughs of NYC.
• Homeless Meal Program Provides daily food packages to homeless individuals using easy flip-top and tear-open containers with fresh fruit when available; intended for homeless individuals without access to cooking or food storage facilities.
• From Farm to Table Partnership program with Just Food providing fresh vegetables distributed weekly along with cooking demonstrations and farm visits; for low-income community members seeking healthy food choices.
• Nutritional Education Nutritional workshops conducted by certified nutritionist including cooking demonstrations and tastings, sponsored by Food Bank for NYC and United Way; for food pantry clients and other community members.
• SNAP (Food Stamps) Services Assists individuals and families with applying for SNAP benefits and provides recertification services by appointment; for low-income households seeking food assistance benefits.
• Summer Youth Employment Program Partnership with DYCD Summer Program employing youths to learn and develop work skills while supporting food pantry operations; for youth from low-income families registered with the food pantry program.
• Family Support Fund Provides beds, furniture, and household items to families in desperate need, funded by Howard E. Stark Charitable Foundation and Keith Haring Foundation; for financially disadvantaged families in the community.
• C&D Pet Supplies Program Provides cat or dog food and supplies to low-income pet parents; for community members enrolled with Reaching-Out Community Services.
• Level-UP Educational Program Educational tutoring program for community members; for learners seeking academic support.
• F.E.A.T. (Firsthand Emergency Action Team) Emergency action team providing immediate assistance to community members in crisis; for individuals and families facing urgent hardship.
• Operation Backpack & Supplies Event Annual event distributing backpacks and school supplies to hundreds of financially disadvantaged children; for school-age children in the Brooklyn community.
• Operation Gobbler Giving Annual Thanksgiving event providing turkeys and holiday food items to families in need; for low-income families registered with the food pantry program.
• Operation Christmas Smiles Annual Christmas party providing toys for children from low-income families registered with the food pantry program; for children of families served by the organization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves more than 14,000 low-income families across Brooklyn
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Food Bank for NYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor food resource partner providing turkeys and food items for Thanksgiving events. Provides nutritional workshop sponsorship through certified nutritionist Marlo Dublin.
• City HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood resource partner that has donated 80 turkeys and 10 pallets of produce for Thanksgiving events to help neighbors in need.
• United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the From Farm to Table initiative providing healthy food choices. Supports nutritional education and cooking demonstrations.
• Council Member Susan ZhuangcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity Council member who has visited multiple times and expressed wholehearted support. Keen on collaborating to provide hope and relief to thousands of individuals in the communities served.
• Bay Ridge SubarusupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough Operation Warm, provides new coats for children. Part of Subaru's largest automotive supporter of Operation Warm helping over 750,000 children and adults.
• Just FoodsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the From Farm to Table initiative providing hundreds of pounds of fresh vegetables weekly to participants.
• Catholic Charities Community Services - Catholic Guild for the BlindsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing work experience training (WET) for visually impaired clients who intern at Reaching-Out, gaining real-world work experience while assisting the organization.
• NYDS Brooklyn Enforcement TeamsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers truckloads of fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the year to help neighbors struggling with food insecurity.
• HRA (NYC Human Resources Administration)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood resource partner listed on supporters page.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York:

Broad incumbents

• City Harvest: NYC food rescue and distribution nonprofit that supplies RCS with turkeys and produce; operates a similar hunger-relief mission at larger scale across the five boroughs.
• Hunger Free America: National hunger-relief advocacy and direct service organization; comparable as a more established player in the food assistance space with overlapping mission.
• Food Bank for New York City: NYC's largest hunger-relief organization supplying food to pantries including RCS; comparable as the dominant food-bank incumbent whose RCS is a downstream distribution partner.

Direct peers

• City Meals-on-Wheels: NYC nonprofit delivering meals to homebound elderly New Yorkers; directly comparable to RCS's homeless meal and senior support programs serving at-risk populations.
• Union Settlement Association: NYC community-based nonprofit providing social services including food assistance to low-income East Harlem residents; directly comparable multi-program community services model.
• Coalition for the Homeless: NYC nonprofit providing services to homeless New Yorkers including food assistance; directly comparable as a community-based provider serving overlapping vulnerable populations in NYC.
• CAMBA: Brooklyn-based nonprofit providing housing, food, education, and social services to low-income New Yorkers; directly comparable Brooklyn-anchored community services nonprofit.
• God's Love We Deliver: NYC nonprofit providing home-delivered meals and nutrition support to people living with serious illness; comparable as a food-assistance organization serving vulnerable populations with a dignity-centered model.
• Project Renewal: NYC nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness with food, housing, and employment services; comparable multi-program social services model serving overlapping client base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rcsprograms
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReachingOutCommunityServices
• Instagraminstagram.com/rcsprograms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Reaching-Out Community Services