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 Feeding the Poor

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 in Crisis

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 in City Neighborhoods



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A Word About Faith In Community

Faith in Community is key to our work at The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport Faith in Community is many things. It is fellowship, connecting peoples and congregations. It is service, helping those in need. It is collaboration, diverse people and groups working together for the common good. The two facets of Faith in Community are Hunger Outreach and Bridge Building.

HUNGER OUTREACH

"Since becoming involved with the Hunger Outreach Program, we have been able to service many more people in need. Our food pantry, combined with the efforts of The Council and the support of the donors in the community, we are also able to educate the Bridgeport community on this overwhelming issue."
— Director, South End Center

Did You Know —

— that every day 30,000 people run the risk of going hungry in Greater Bridgeport?

— of this number, approximately 30% are children?

and most of the other 70% are homeless teens, seniors, and adults with acute personal, medical, job or life problems that seriously impact their ability to earn a living wage?

Although it is unsettling to learn that national figures cite Bridgeport as among our nation's cities with the highest child poverty rates, the number of working poor is particularly disturbing. In one of the wealthiest states in the country, even with at least one parent in the workforce, 26% of Connecticut children are living in poverty.


The Hunger Outreach program provides support services to a network of 34 local congregations and community groups that provide direct services to our neediest neighbors in Bridgeport, Stratford, Trumbull, Monroe and Fairfield. Hunger Outreach also applies for and distributes funds from FEMA to pay for immediate needs — food and necessary equipment — and works to secure long-term funding from U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.

The Hunger Outreach program provides suppHunger Outreach also works with community partners to find long-term solutions to the growing problem of hunger in our community, and serves as an advocate for both the individuals facing hunger and the groups who work to help them. Staff coordinates community efforts to recruit of volunteers needed at local sites and assists with local and national food drives.

Feeding Sites

Hunger Outreach, working with local congregations and community groups prepared and served  over 1,000,000 meals last year. This network of over 34 food kitchens, pantries and mobile units is made up of mostly volunteers, and works seven days a week, 365 days a year to feed needy families and individuals.

Hunger Outreach programs currently serve about 50% of those suffering from hunger in the Greater Bridgeport area. We want to do more. And with your help we can. For more information, please contact Byron Crosdale at byroncrosdale@ccgb.org.

For a listing of sites click here.

News From Member Church Trumbull Congregational:

This past Saturday (3/13/2010), the children at Trumbull Congregational Church went food shopping for the food pantry at St Luke's in Bridgeport . Their weekly offering each week goes toward this trip and, this year, we also set up our own "pantry" so the kids could see what it looks like and stock their own shelves by bringing in food offerings as well. Altogether, the children spent approximately $1500 at the grocery store (they do the shopping!), and thier shopping will result in over 100 bags of groceries and personal care items being dropped off at St Luke's this week.

-submitted by Kelli Pollock, Chairperson, Christian Education Board, TCC

 

  HOW TO ORGANIZE A FOOD DRIVE:

    
 Gather food and deliver it to a feeding program in Greater Bridgeport
    
 Select and contact the feeding program for which you would like to gather food from the attached list or other sources
    
 Call the Contact for that program. Review the list of foods and ask if they have any specific food needs that you could focus on. Arrange a time and date to deliver the food you collect.
    
 Identify the group to involve in your project such as friends from church, work, a club, school, etc.
    
 Set a Goal i.e. 100 jars of peanut butter, etc.
    
 Teach others to do what you do

  PLAN YOUR COLLECTION:

    
 Collect Money and foods after a church service, service club meeting or event.
    
 Create your own approach plan an event that appeals to you particular group
    
 Bag the collection and deliver to the program as agreed with the contact person
    
 Visit the program while it is in operation  call ahead to check
    
 Communicate with the program  Communication is the single most important element to making this a good experience for all
    
 E-mail your results of your event to: byroncrosdale@ccgb.org at the Council of Churches Data  include amount raised, program you sponsored and the name of your group, congregation or organization.


For More

Information

Contact

The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport
1100 Boston Avenue, Bldg. 5A
Bridgeport, CT 06610


Phone: 203-334-1121 x 249
Fax: 203 367-8113

Email: byroncrosdale@ccgb.org


Hunger Outreach Sites as of July 1, 2011

Agape Food Pantry                                         Tel: (203) 380-8431                Serve: Tue and Fri (11-1:00pm)

Agape Soup Kitchen                                       Tel: (203) 366-5824                Serve: Sat (11 -1pm)

Bishop Jean Williams Food Pantry                 Tel: (203) 331-8024                Serve: Th. (12:30-2:30pm)

Black Rock Pantry                                         Tel: (203) 552-6647                Serve: Sat (9-12pm)

Bridgeport Rescue Mission                             Tel: (203) 333-4087                Serve: Mon/Sun (7 am-7 pm)

Calvary Seventh Day Adventist Church        Tel: (203) 384-8974                Serve: Sun (12:00 – 1:00pm &
                                                                                                                                    Wed 6-7:30 pm)

Calvary St. George’s Episcopal Church        Tel: (203) 333-5116                Pantry: Tue. & Th. (9:30-11:30am)
                                                                                                            Kitchen: Mondays (5 – 6 pm)

City of Bridgeport Veteran’s Affair                 Tel: (203) 576-8348                Serve: Mon (3pm-6:30pm)
                                                                                                            Tue (10am-2pm), Fri (9-11am)

Daughters of Charity                                      Tel: (203)334-7000                 Serve: Wed (1-3pm)

East End Baptist Tabernacle Church             Tel: (203) 372-0483                Serve: Mon (6-7pm)

East End Community Council                                    Tel: (203) 727-5573                Serve: Th. (10am – 2pm)

El Olivar Food Pantry                                     Tel: (203) 913-1417                Serve: Wed. (9am -11am)

Feed the People Food Pantry                         Tel: (203) 3739481                  Serve: Fri and Sat (4:30 – 5:30)

Feel the Warmth                                             Tel: (203) 521-7766                Serve: Th (6 pm)
   United Congregational Church

Fresh Start Outreach Ministry                        Tel: (203) 545-5325                Serve: Sat (12pm-2pm)
            Food Pantry                                                                                                    Sun (8:30am-9:30am)
 
Golden Hill Community Supper                      Tel: (203) 3360152                  Serve: Wed (5 - 6)

King’s Pantry                                                   Tel: (203) 335-9255                Pantry: M thru F (10:30 – 1:30pm)
                                                                                                                        Mobile: Sun (12:15-12:45pm)

Kitchen of Hope                                              Tel: (203) 367-1713                Serves M, W & F (12 – 1)
 
Light on the Hill                                                Tel: (203) 367-8783               Serve: F and Sat (9:30 – 12:30pm)

MANNA                                                          Tel: (203) 384-2970                Serve: Mon – Fri (9-12pm)

Thomas Merton Center                                  Tel: (203) 367-9036                Serve: M-F (9-1:30pm)
                                                                                                                                    Sat (11am-12pm

Monroe Food Pantry                                       Tel: (203) 452-3770                Serve: M (2-5pm) W & F (9 – 1)
                                                                                                            Sat. Once a month (10-12pm)

Operation Hope                                              Tel: (203) 292-5588                Serve: M-Sun Lunch (11-12:30pm)
                                                                                                                        Dinner (5:30-7pm)

Russell Temple Community Supper              Tel: (203)333-0130                 Serve: F (5-6pm) Sun (8-8:30am)

St. Ambrose Parish                                         Tel: (203)333-1336                 Serve: T, F (11am-2pm)

St. Augustine Cathedral                                  Tel: (203)368-6777                 Serve: M & W (10 – 12)

St. Charles Borromeo Pantry                         Tel: (203) 367-1489                            Serve: M - Fri (10 – 12)

St. John’s Episcopal Church                          Tel: (203) 335-2999                Kitchen: Tues (5 - 6 pm)
                                                                                                            Pantry: Sat (9:30-11:30am)

St. Luke’s/St. Paul’s Episcopal Church          Tel: (203) 367-7009                Pantry: M-Th (10:30 – 12:30 pm)
                                                                                                            Kitchen: Tues (5 – 6 pm)
St. Stephen’s Emergency Pantry                   Tel: (203) 367-9036                Serve: M, W & Fri (10 – 1)

The Salvation Army                                        Tel: (203) 334-0995                Pantry: M, Tue, Th, F (10-1pm)
                                                                                                            Kitchen: Sun and Tues (6pm)

Share The Bounty                                           Tel: (203) 335-4751                Serve: Th (5 – 6:30 pm)

Community Food Bank                                  Tel: (203) 377-0689                Serve: M & W (10 – 12)
   South End Community Center                    Ext. #10

Sterling House Community Center                Tel: (203) 378-2606                Serve: M & W (12:30 – 2:30pm)
                                                                                                                        Tues. & Th. (3-5pm)

Trumbull Social Services                                Tel: (203) 452-5198                Serve: Mon-Fri (9 – 4 pm)  

Universal Church of God Pantry                    Tel: (203) 610-5903                Serves: Wed. (10-12pm)
©2006 The Greater Bridgeport Council of Churches, Inc.Questions? Contact Us