FREED to FEED is After Incarceration's weekly Monday outreach outside the Newburgh Parole Field Office, serving formerly incarcerated community members reporting for parole and substance abuse treatment.

Parole reporting can be emotionally complex. While physically free, people remain under the prison system's control, triggering trauma, fear, and feelings of entrapment. FREED to FEED interrupts these difficult moments with kindness and community support, providing emotional grounding before people return home.

Our team watches for distress and creates space for sharing experiences with others who truly understand. We know how hard it is to explain these experiences to those who haven't lived them.

We provide fresh fruits and vegetables from Newburgh Farmers Market vendors, grocery staples from Hannaford through Marc's Friends, bottled water, and books to draw, color, and read—nourishing body and mind. When available, we distribute diapers, milk, and gift cards for urgent needs.

Most Newburgh residents know someone who's experienced incarceration, yet many don't know what to expect when loved ones return. FREED to FEED offers hope and guidance, emphasizing that release begins the journey of rebuilding relationships—work requiring support, patience, and healing.

Our presence challenges harmful stereotypes. When neighbors see formerly incarcerated people caring for their community, it dispels destructive myths.

Staffed by program alumni, youth leaders, and community partners, FREED to FEED serves 12-15 people weekly. Many more connect through referrals to Kingian Nonviolence workshops, restorative circles, and leadership programs.

Food opens the door; dignity and healing are the goal. FREED to FEED nourishes bodies, restores hope, and reshapes narratives—showing formerly incarcerated people as essential to building the beloved community we all deserve.