Beyond the Headlines: Virgin Islander Brings Food, Hope to New Yorkers Through Nonprofit

As housing costs rise and food insecurity continues to affect communities across New York, Virgin Islander Tu’shouney Phillips is helping meet an immediate need by providing free meals and water to unhoused residents while working toward long-term solutions through his nonprofit, Guardians and Gardeners.

A member of the Virgin Islands Guainía Taino Tribe, Phillips extends his service beyond his tribal community by distributing sandwiches and water to people experiencing homelessness throughout New York.

“I make the food, I put it in a cart, and I find people to give the food out to. I make it as far as I can with what I have,” Phillips said.

While providing meals addresses immediate hunger, Phillips said the organization’s larger mission is to help communities become self-sustaining.

“When Guardians and Gardeners enter into a place, we not only help them get back to where they were but also create a system to where they become more self-sustaining,” he said.