What if your neighbors felt like family?
GatherFor: Brownsville helps Brownsville residents form teams of up to five neighbors, who commit to supporting one another like family. Want to be a part of it? Keep reading!
How it works
You and up to four Brownsville residents agree to form a GatherFor Neighbor Team
We’ll guide you through some initial conversations to better get to know one another
GatherFor provides funds for you to have one outing together once a month, which could be spent on food, transportation, child care, or whatever your group needs. You decide as a group how to use the funds and send GatherFor a picture at the end of the month to get gathering funds for the next month.
You elect a captain, who checks in on each of you once a month, and makes sure you have your team gathering. The captain attends a once / month gathering with other GatherFor: Brownsville Neighbor Team captains, who support one another.
What a Neighbor Team looks like in action
"When I first lost my job, I needed unemployment, but didn't know how to fill out the right forms. Tanasia met up with me in person and helped me. That bought me a few months. I started sending out a lot of applications but got nothing back. Mia found out about a job, which was going to interview at a job fair. I'm not phone savvy, so Kiyana met up with me and helped me fill out the whole application. Natasha did some research and gave me pointers like what to say in the interview. She told me not to smoke that day so I don't smell like smoke. She went with me to the job fair for moral support. This group really looked out for me and thanks to them, I got the job!"
Tanasia, Natasha, Michelle, Mia, and Kiyana (pictured above) came together to form a GatherFor Neighbor Team (which they named “Bridge to Better”) in September 2024. In March 2026, Michelle (center, kneeling) lost her job of 18 years at a homeless shelter due to government funding cuts. Her Neighbor Team sprung into action to help her, as she describes in her own words left.
What Your Experience Will Be
Step 1: Fill out a form online here or complete a paper form and send a photo of it to teju@gatherfor.org
Step 2: You come together in person with your new Neighbor Team of 4-5 Brownsville residents. We'll facilitate you as a group getting to know each other and getting the group started!
Step 3: As a group, you elect a captain, who will check in on you each month and make sure the group gets together. We will provide the group with funds for monthly gatherings. As a group, you come together for celebrations and to support one another when needed. Your goal is to build a sense of chosen family, where you feel your Neighbors are your people and have your back no matter what!
Hear From Current Participants
We’ve been running this program since 2020 in Brownsville, Brooklyn with 50 participants. Hear from some of our current participants them to get a sense of what experiences on a Neighbor Team might be like!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any cost to participate?
There is no cost to participate at all!
Who qualifies for participation in GatherFor: Brownsville?
Anyone over 18 years old living in or near Brownsville, Brooklyn, can participate in GatherFor: Brownsville.
Where does GatherFor operate?
We’re running pilots of GatherFor in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
If I want to participate, what do I do?
You can fill out this form and GatherFor staff will reach out to you for a phone call about what’s important to you right now and for more information about how GatherFor: Brownsville works. You can also fill out a paper application received from an existing participant of GatherFor.
How long does the engagement last?
When you join a Neighbor Team, we ask that you commit to it for at least three months at first. After that time, we’ll check in with you to see if it’s something you want to continue doing. Many of our Neighbor Teams have lasted for years, but participation is optional and should be something you continue only if you find the experience valuable and enriching.
Can I participate if I'm an undocumented immigrant?
Absolutely. We will take special precautions to be sensitive to your situation. We also may be able to connect you to legal support.
I’m worried about sharing my personal information with others.
We completely understand. You are always in control of what information you share and don’t share and won’t be asked to do or say anything you don’t feel comfortable with.
I’m needing support with mental health. Is there any way to get that through GatherFor?
Yes. First, we encourage Neighbor Teams to practice compassionate listening and support one another first and foremost by showing up for one another and offering our presence. Second, we have partnerships through which we may be able to connect you to mental health professionals who can provide free counseling, emotional support, trauma counseling, and more.
Is GatherFor a nonprofit?
Yes, GatherFor is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with EIN 85-3982098. You can see our Candid / Guidestar profile here, where we have a 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency.
Why the name GatherFor?
We chose the name GatherFor because it communicates what we believe: if we come together with one another committed to each other’s well-being, we have everything we need. Ultimately, GatherFor: Brownsville is about supporting Brownsville Residents as they support each other. If you join a Neighbor Team, it’s up to you and your team to define what you gather for. We’ll be there with you to give you resources, opportunities, and structure as it’s helpful.
GatherFor: Stories
As the Delta Variant surges, the eviction moratorium and federal unemployment assistance are winding down. Our Neighbors need support weathering this gap. We’re raising $2,000 for each of the 43 in our pilot and you can help. Read on to find out how.