The Center for Family Justice is pleased to announce nOURish BRIDGEPORT, Inc., has been named its 2020 Partner of the Year for its innovative program which connects local victims of domestic violence to fresh, healthy groceries.
nOURish BRIDGEPORT, which operates two food pantries in Bridgeport, has been providing food to domestic violence clients of The Center for Family Justice for the last five years through its Food for Family Justice program. This unique program gives CFJ’s clients safe, confidential access to its food pantry on a weekly basis, so they can shop for themselves and their families as they work to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of domestic violence.
Each year, CFJ presents its Partner of the Year honor to a nonprofit or organization which works in formal partnership to support its clients impacted by domestic or sexual violence in the six local communities it serves. Last year, nOURish BRIDGEPORT provided groceries to more than 600 CFJ clients, offering them provisions for thousands of meals.
At the height of the COVID-19 shelter –in-place orders, nOURish volunteers continued to offer these services to CFJ clients, providing home deliveries and pickup options to domestic violence survivors experiencing food insecurity.
nOURish BRIDGEPORT will formally receive its award at CFJ’s Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually this year on Facebook (@Centerforfamilyjustice) on Thursday, June 25 at 6 p.m.
”To be able to eliminate food insecurity for our clients as they work toward self-sufficiency after the trauma of abuse is a true blessing for them,” said Debra A. Greenwood, President & CEO of The Center for Family Justice. “It’s also a gift for our staff to be able to work with such a generous and trusted partner to support our clients. We’re really thrilled to recognize nOURish Bridgeport for all they do for the victims and survivors we serve.”
The Rev. Sara Smith, Senior Pastor of United Congregational Church in Bridgeport, founded nOURish BRIDGEPORT ten years ago to address food insecurity in the area. Since then, it’s volunteer-powered team, who work under the direction of Food Pantry Director Aly Lake, has focused on providing healthy foods including fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, poultry and meats and pantry staples, in a welcoming environment where clients can shop for their families as they would in a supermarket.
“nOURish Bridgeport and I are proud to work with the CFJ to bring healing and hope – and food – to victims of domestic violence,” said Smith, who is the President & CEO of nOURish BRIDGEPORT. “The real heroes are the CFJ clients who take the groceries that nOURish provides and use that food to sustain, nurture and fuel their journey to safety, freedom, and wholeness.”
