We depend on your donation to keep the education & action going!
Your donation supports our programs in under-resourced NYC schools and schools across the US. With schools as hubs for change, students are taking the lead to reduce food and plastic waste from school cafeterias and communities.
Cafeteria Culture is a partner project of the Fund for the City of New York. Your donation is eligible for charitable deductions under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Donation by Credit Card
Please click this link for Paypal, there is an option for you to make a donation by credit card, without a Paypal account.
Donation by Check
If you prefer to make a donation by check, mail your check to:
Cafeteria Culture c/o Fund for the City of New York 121 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor New York, NY 10013- 1590 Attention: Makayla Karr-Warner (Please write “Cafeteria Culture” in the memo line.)
Donation by Bank Wire
Please email us at info@cafeteriaculture.org, we will give you the bank account information.
Our Impact
Styrofoam Out Of Schools campaign, initiated by CafCu in 2009, resulted in NYC and 15 other major urban school districts eliminating styrofoam entirely from public school cafeterias, keeping half a billion styrofoam trays per year out of landfills, incinerators, and student meals. This also led to NYC’s styrofoam ban enacted in 2020, NY state’s ban enacted in 2021 and paved the way for the composting program across all NYC public schools.
Plastic Free Lunch Day, started by CafCu and fifth grade students, and building upon Styrofoam Out of Schools campaign, is being implemented monthly in NYC’s 750 elementary schools and is a national biannual event in urban school districts including Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Dallas, San Diego and NYC, reaching millions across the country, significantly reducing single use plastic and increasing awareness about the plastic pollution crisis.
Microplastic Madness, our award winning, student-led documentary – has reached over 130,000 people in 45 countries and 32 US states, with over 400 Q+A sessions across the world– from China to Switzerland– encouraging subsequent action.
In our unique approach to zero waste education, we:
Partner with students facing extreme hardship and who are the most dependent on the public school food system. Our approach gives them the opportunity to share their viewpoints and novel solutions as experts on issues from first hand experience that adults and the “system” often miss.
Teach interdisciplinary zero waste/student leadership classroom curricula combined with place-based learning in the cafeteria, the community, and City Hall, framed with 21st Century learning skills of critical thinking, real-world problem solving, collaboration, media literacy, and global awareness.
Collect and analyze waste audit data, working collaboratively with students, that they then use – combined with their personal stories – to convince decision makers to make change (e.g. school food directors, New York City Council).
Teach media production and storytelling as part of zero waste education, providing platforms for students to share their findings, personal narratives, and unique solutions to decision makers and the public.
💙 With Gratitude to UpClear This website redesign was made possible by the generous support of UpClear, whose belief in youth leadership continues to uplift our work. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and commitment to amplifying student voices for real-world change.🌊 With Deep Thanks to the Johnson Ohana Foundation Musician and activist, Jack Johnson, with Cafeteria Culture Former Executive Director/Founder – Debby Lee Cohen and fabulous intern, Christine Herman-Velazquez. We are incredibly grateful to the Johnson Ohana Foundation, founded by Kim and Jack Johnson to support zero waste, art, and music education, for their steadfast support of Cafeteria Culture’s educational programs since 2010!
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Featured Initiatives
Microplastic Madness
An award-winning documentary that's inspiring a global youth movement
