At the annual fundraiser for the Sixth Street Community Center

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The Sixth Street Community Center held its Annual Fundraiser Dinner on Sunday night. Proceeds go to support the Food Distribution Program, which has provided free access to farm-fresh produce to thousands of food-insecure families on the Lower East Side since April 2020. 

I stopped by as the staff was prepping the four-course meal created by Chef Frumpy Grain.

According to an Instagram post, the Center raised nearly $7,000.

Learn more about the programs at the Sixth Street Community Center here.

Your chance to laugh and support the Sixth Street Community Center

Sixth Street Comedy returns on Thursday, April 8 ... and once again, the shows will serve as a fundraiser for the Sixth Street Community Center between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

Last year, the shows organized by the East Village-based Lil Fish Productions raised $4,000 for the Community Center...

Here's info about the Community Center's current financial situation:

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges that acutely threaten the survival of the 42-year-old organization. The Sixth Street Community Center is in a unique situation where the organization owns the building that houses their programs, and they are saddled with monthly mortgage payments that they have been unable to keep up with while trying to support basic expenses for staff and programs. 

Unfortunately, mortgage moratoriums are not effective in keeping their mortgage collectors at bay. Unlike other small community-based organizations that have shuttered their doors during the pandemic, Sixth Street Community Center has kept our doors wide open to address the unprecedented levels of food insecurity that our community is facing. 

We are very proud that we were able to pivot our work to organize and launch a free emergency food distribution, which has been operating to serve over 400 families weekly for nine months since April. Through supportive partnerships with emergent mutual aid groups and a steady team of volunteers, we've also been using our Center's kitchen to cook over 2,000 meals a week, which are provided at no cost to homeless and food-insecure individuals and families across the Lower East Side, East Village, East Harlem, and Queens. Since the onset of COVID, we have supported over 16,000 families through our food access work. 

You can find the ticket info and list of performers at this link. (Keep in mind there is very limited capacity. And masks are required.) Follow @lilfishproductions on Instagram for more updates on shows.

Outdoor comedy fundraisers continue for the Sixth Street Community Center

The outdoor comedy series, held in a private backyard in the East Village, continues on to help raise funds for the Sixth Street Community Center between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

The next shows for Sixth Street Comedy, produced by EV resident Ali Fischbein, are coming up this week (Wednesday and Thursday evenings). 

You can follow @sixthstreetcomedy for details on the guests and hosts. Or visit this site for ticket info. Keep in mind there is very limited capacity. And masks are required.

The series kicked off in early September, as we reported here.

Image via @sixthstreetcomedy

Funny fundraising business for the Sixth Street Community Center

There's a funny new way to help raise money for the Sixth Street Community Center.

An East Village resident is behind an ongoing series of outdoor comedy shows that serve as a fundraiser for the Center between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

The next show is tomorrow (Sept. 16) night. You can follow @sixthstreetcomedy for details. 

The first show — with very limited capacity — took place last week in a private backyard somewhere in the neighborhood. Seth Herzog hosted the show, with sets by Mark Normand, Jared Freid, Wil Sylvince, Corinne Fisher, Nimesh Patel, Derek Gaines and Liz Miele. Here are a few scenes...

Photos by Matt Salacuse

RIP Annette Averette

Sad news from the Sixth Street Community Center today: Annette Averette, a longtime neighborhood activist, died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer.

Here's more information via the EVG inbox...

Annette was Howard Brandstein’s partner at Sixth Street Community Center for over 25 years. Together they developed programs in community supported agriculture, youth and environmental advocacy that continue to support our LES neighborhoods. In 2009, Annette founded our Organic Soul Cafe where she served as chef and manager.

Prior to working at Sixth Street, Annette was Executive Director of the LES Anti-Displacement Project, where for seven years she provided vital assistance to tenants fighting to secure their homes.

Thank you to all who have extended your support during this difficult time. Annette is legendary and her spirit will remain with us forever. There is so much more to say about Annette-Her wisdom, political activism, legal and financial savvy, great cooking and, above all, her beautiful and caring soul. We will miss her deeply.

Tomorrow (July 30) afternoon, the Sixth Street Community Center (638 E. Sixth St. between B and C) will be honoring her memory from 4-7 p.m.

An art collaboration to help support the Sixth Street Community Center

East Village resident Ali Fischbein has launched Sixth Street Art Coalition, a collaboration with local artists to create merchandise to sell to support the Sixth Street Community Center's emergency food pantry during the COVID-19 crisis.

Fischbein says all profits will go directly to the Sixth Street Community Center's emergency food pantry for local residents. (The Community Center was founded in 1978 between Avenue B and Avenue C.)

The first round of merchandise was released this weekend, featuring mugs by NY See illustrator (and EVG contributor) Grant Shaffer and a Frank Ape tote by Brandon Sines...





The Sixth Street Art Coalition will unveil more merchandise in the days ahead. You can find more details at their website or Instagram account. You can also donate directly to Sixth Street Community Center's emergency food pantry here.

Eco-Fest & Block Party today on 6th Street

Between Avenue B and Avenue C between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. — rain or shine...

Here's what you can expect via the Block Party website:

All ages / Free / Open to the Public

Solar Power / Music / Community Gardens / Bicycling / Composting / Urban Agriculture / Yoga / Public Spaces / Permaculture / Theater / Green Roofs / Dance / Community Supported Agriculture / Maps / Cantestorias / Science / Hemp / Seed Bombs / Beekeeping / Puppets / Geothermal Energy / Plastic Free / Diversity / Art / Wind Power / Food

Sixth Street Community Center CSA launches for the summer/fall

Here are more details via the Center's website:

The Sixth Street CSA has been in existence since 1996, and our members consistently have access to some of the freshest and best quality produce available. From June to November, our partner farms, Hepworth Farms in Ulster County, New York, and Catalpa Ridge Farm in Sussex County, New Jersey, provide over 200 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

At Sixth Street, we believe that all neighborhood residents should have access to fresh, organic, local produce, regardless of their level of income. Our CSA operates on a sliding scale model, and member fees are determined based on the income level of your household. This sliding scale model is made possible in part thanks to a generous grant from Wholesome Wave.

CSA pick-ups are every Tuesday from 5pm-9pm at Sixth Street Community Center, located at 638 E Sixth Street between Avenue B and C.

Learn more about how to take part by visiting the Center's website or calling (212) 677-1863.

Sixth Street Yoga Junction now open in the Sixth Street Community Center

Sixth Street Yoga Junction opened on Oct. 5 … they are located on the third floor of the Sixth Street Community Center, 638 E. Sixth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Here's more about the studio:

Sixth Street Yoga Junction is a community yoga studio in the East Village of New York City. We offer affordable, vinyasa based yoga classes for all levels. This "junction" is intended as a meeting point for the community as well as a joining of attention, body and breath within ourselves as we practice. We offer you a welcoming space and the guidance to cultivate a relationship to your inner experience.

You can find pricing and more info at the Sixth Street Yoga Junction website and Facebook page.

Sixth Street Community Center CSA launches for the summer/fall

From the EVG inbox …

For 14 years the Sixth Street Community Center CSA has provided its members with the freshest and best tasting produce available from local farms. Since 1996, more than 200 different varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs are provided January to December from our partner farms, Hepworth Farm in Ulster County, New York and Catalpa Ridge Farm in Sussex County, New Jersey.

Head over to the the Sixth Street Community Center's website for more details.

Saturday: Sixth Street Community Center celebrates its 35th anniversary

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Find tickets here.