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Reflections on the Year

by News and Events

Friends,

 

As 2025 comes to a close, I reflect on the incredible vibrance, resiliency, and the determined spirit of the community that we proudly serve. I am honored to join wonderful supporters like you and to partner with our neighbors in Sunset Park as they build fulfilling lives, care for their families, and do all in their power to actualize the bright future that they desire for their community.


For so many in Sunset Park today, actualizing a better future is, as the saying goes, “making a way out of no way.” There is nothing more important than our collective effort to acknowledge the dignity in all people. In fellowship, we forge a path for all to reach their human potential, make their voices heard, and make their dreams a reality. 


This year, when SNAP benefits were suspended during the government shutdown, Center for Family Life was able to respond to emerging policy and funding challenges by doubling our pantry services to reach hundreds more families experiencing hunger. We expanded our Know Your Rights workshops and Guardianship Planning materials so that all parents can feel certain their children will have someone of their choosing to care for them, and that all children can continue to build their futures here in the community that is their home.


Even in the face of unanticipated challenges, the Center grew its programs and experienced many moments of joy. We honored the 43-year legacy of Co-Executive Director Julie Stein Brockway and launched an innovation fund in her honor. We continued to offer our many essential programs and services, reaching 17,946 families and 24,853 community members with supportive education, employee readiness, and social service programs.


Importantly, this year we also heard the desire of neighbors and supporters to come together in community and face the unprecedented change and uncertainty together with friends and loved ones. In response, looking to 2026, Center for Family Life in Sunset Park is creating more opportunities to bring our Brooklyn community together. From our first community gathering on Three Kings Day next week (join us!), to spring, summer, and fall events and volunteer opportunities. 


This is your place to find and be in solidarity with others who share your commitment to ensuring all our neighbors have the opportunity to pursue a life of abundance. Which is why, today, I am asking for your help. Thank you for doing your part to support the Sunset Park community by contributing to Center for Family Life.


Wishing you and your loved ones a healthy, authentic, and happy New Year.


Sincerely,

Julia Jean-Francois

Co-Executive Director

CFL Summer Camp participants. Art designed by local Sunset Park artist, Mei Zheng.

Happy Holidays!

by News and EventsUncategorized

We are so grateful for all our supporters and community members. It’s been a challenging year, but Sunset Park is an incredibly resilient and resourceful community!

 

 

Center for Family Life continues to be a beacon of hope, hub of civic engagement, and resource point for economic livelihoods in our neighborhood.  

 

This year, our Center helped:

  • 2,435 families obtain $1.6 million in benefits like SNAP and health insurance.
  • 5,426 people file their tax returns through our VITA Tax Filing Program, securing $8,500,000 in refunds for low-income community members (interested in volunteering with our tax program?).
  • 1,159 youth earn close to $2 million in earnings this summer through our Summer Youth Employment Program.

 

We couldn’t have done this without your help. Thank you, and we wish you a very happy, healthy, and peaceful holiday season. 

 

Warmly,

The Staff and Board of Center for Family Life in Sunset Park

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PS – we’re nearing our $100,000 year-end goal, can you help us get there? 

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November: The Season of Giving

by News and EventsUncategorized

We love this season because it reminds us to be thankful for all of the things we enjoy and the people we are grateful to have in our lives.

However, for many of our community members who have limited incomes, unstable housing, food insecurity, or are far from loved ones at home, it can be hard to feel the joy of the season.

At Center for Family Life, we work to make every individual in our Sunset Park community feel warmth, love, and appreciation now and year-round. But our programs are only possible with your incredible generosity.

Today, we’re excited to kick off our end-of-year fundraising goal to reach $100,000 by January 10th, 2026. Your donations will directly support our free food pantry, afterschool programs, legal services, ESOL classes, family counseling, and so much more. 

DONATE
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Council Member Avilés helping with our annual turkey distribution.

Just last week, our amazing food pantry team partnered with District 38 Council Member Alexa Avilés and City Harvest to distribute 175 turkeys to families in need. An annual tradition at CFL, our turkey give-a-ways are in addition to our regular food packages which this year have reached 2,628 families so far.

Centering support in the heart of Sunset Park is exactly how CFL delivers warmth to our neighbors who may be experiencing a very challenging time this season.

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The CFL food pantry team with Council Member Avilés.

Join us today to help us reach $100,000 by January 10th and ensure no interruption to our community programs in the new year.

No donation is too small!

DONATE

From all of us at Center for Family Life, we wish you a safe and restful Thanksgiving holiday.

We appreciate you!

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January: Celebrating Sunset Park’s Immigrant Community

by News and Events

 

This month, Center for Family Life lifts up the incredible energy, potential and accomplishments of our immigrant community members who have come to Brooklyn from countries around the world. Our neighbors in the community honor us with their trust and with their willingness to share their authentic selves. Whether they come to us to look for jobs, to learn about public benefits, to participate in our afterschool programs, or to find support to build strong and loving families, our neighbors teach all of us at Center for Family Life so many invaluable life lessons about resiliency, determination and the joy of actualizing one’s fullest potential. We are grateful beyond words for the partnership of our community members and for their willingness to share their life stories, accomplishments, and challenges with us.

The community members whom we serve have contributed so much to making Sunset Park a truly exceptional place to live and grow. Our very newest community members, working with our employment counselors, have found their path to success in hospitality, homecare agencies, food service, security, construction, and as bilingual teaching assistants. We are thrilled to have welcomed several to the staff of Center for Family Life!

Undaunted by learning a new language and undeterred by learning to navigate a huge and complex city, our participants have inspired pride in their families and neighbors with the work that they have chosen to do and the contribution they have chosen to make to this city.

This month we remember the wise counsel of the founders of Center for Family Life, and we submit that it is our honor and privilege to be given the opportunity to serve our neighbors. Our charge is to work in solidarity to encounter the grace, the dignity, and the inestimable beauty of all people as they make their way through their lives in community.

We continue our work with resolute determination and optimism, and we thank all who support our work for sharing their resources and encouragement as we draw strength and wisdom from fellowship with our neighbors.