Who We Are

Buddy System MIA was founded in response to the unprecedented needs of our Miami community during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a team of passionate local volunteers dedicated to eradicating food insecurity in our community. We have since turned a small mutual-aid program into a diverse county-wide nonprofit serving over 5,000 people with access to free, healthy food. The initial distributions began with compassion and determination to share during isolation, and that ethos has carried us into 10 Community Fridges, a robust volunteer-client pairing Homebound Food Access Program, three monthly food distributions supporting vulnerable populations and a food pantry that acts as an emergency food resource.

Our mission is to empower neighbors to support neighbors, beginning with access to healthy food and expanding to the larger more nuanced needs of individuals in the community. We see a world where community members come together to uplift each other and collaborate to create viable support for long-term change.

As artists, we are all inspired to create outside the box to foster health, safety and equity in our community. Our organization has a unique voice filled with innovative programs that allow us to go beyond traditional food distributions and place people first.

How We Started

When the pandemic hit, we started with a simple idea- a volunteer placement program that would bring food and resources to homebound, vulnerable members of our community. Miami embraced this “buddy system” and throughout the summer of 2020, we hosted our own large-scale weekly food drives in partnership with Crossbridge Brickell. Every Friday, hundreds of volunteers picked up a box of free groceries and delivered to their neighbors in need. We are indebted to the organizations, volunteers, and community members who started this journey with us and believed in our mission.

Our Mission

The health and well-being of our communities are at the forefront of our mission. As a young, new nonprofit, we believe that creativity and social services can go hand in hand.

Our Vision

We hope to continue to look beyond the traditional avenues of food assistance, creating innovative programs and spaces that allow community ownership and empowerment.

Our Values

We value working directly with communities and local volunteers, becoming true partners with the areas we serve encouraging neighbors to support neighbors.

Our Team

Buddy System MIA is made up of a diverse group of community organizers, activists, and artists. Together, our small but mighty team brings together a varied set of backgrounds, identities, and ideas to truly reflect the vast landscape of Miami.