New Initiative Lets New Yorkers Try the Lower East Side’s Best Vegan Food While Helping Homeless Youth

A group of female-owned businesses in New York City’s Lower East Side neighborhood recently bound together to launch The Lower Feast Side Vegan Bites Punchard, a card that gives users access to some of the neighborhood’s best vegan eats while supporting Safe Horizon’s Streetwork Project which helps homeless, runaway, and street-involved youth. Spearheaded by vegan deli Orchard Grocer, the $50 punch card can be used for purchasing specialty offerings from five local businesses: The Bowery breakfast sandwich from Orchard Grocer; Korean Fried Broccoli from Dirt Candy; Pumpkin Hummus & Spring Rolls from May Kaidee; a signature cupcake from Erin McKenna’s; and Oat-milk Soft Serve (in a cup or cone) from Whipped Urban Dessert Lab—the first dessert shop to make all of its soft serve from oat milk. 

“We love our local vegan and vegetarian restaurant community, and we know you do, too. We’ve launched the Lower Feast Side Vegan Bites Punchard to come together and support one another through this challenging time, and also give back to our little slice of NYC, as 10 percent of the total purchase will benefit Safe Horizon’s Streetwork Project, an organization near and dear to our hearts,” Erica Kubersky, founder of Orchard Grocer and the adjacent MooShoes, said. “We hope this card will take you on an indulgent, plant-based journey through the Lower East Side.” 

The Lower Feast Side Vegan Bites Punchard is now available for pre-order and can be picked up starting on October 15 at Orchard Grocer during its regular hours of operation (9am to 8pm, daily).