The Elisha Project

What The Elisha Project does

The Elisha Project is a faith-based nonprofit organization founded in 2011 in Providence, Rhode Island by George L. Ortiz Jr. and his wife Carrie Ortiz. The organization addresses food insecurity and food waste through five interconnected programs: EP Share Market (weekly Saturday food box distribution), EP Food Rescue (redistribution of surplus food from 26+ restaurant and retail partners), EP Street Kitchen (restaurant-style hot meal service), EP Bodegas (neighborhood nutrition access points), and EP 4 Veterans (support services for military veteran families). Since inception, the organization has shared over 4 million meals, supported 300,000+ veterans, and serves more than 1,000 families monthly.

Operations span multiple U.S. cities (Providence, Pawtucket, Boston, Brooklyn, Queens, Houston, Florida) and international locations (Pakistan, Guatemala, Cape Verde, Jamaica, Cuba). The organization runs on a donation-only revenue model with suggested monthly contributions of $10-$100 from individuals, supplemented by corporate sponsorships (CVS Health, Panera Bread, Stop & Shop, 240 Maintenance LLC) and foundation support. There is no proprietary technology platform; logistics are managed manually through a centralized Pawtucket warehouse that sorts rescued food daily, supported by a staff of 11-50 employees and a broad volunteer base mobilized through EP Saturday events and university outreach programs at Brown and Johnson & Wales.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led, relying on organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn), a weekly blog, in-person community presentations, and word-of-mouth to attract both recipients and donors. Distribution is entirely free to recipients, with the "Give. Love. Live." philosophy emphasizing dignity, choice, and direct giver-to-recipient connection over conventional food bank models. No external funding rounds, venture capital, or institutional investment have been disclosed; the organization is entirely privately controlled by the founding Ortiz family.

Name

The Elisha Project

Legal name

The Elisha Project

Website

https://elishaproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Elisha Project is a Rhode Island-based nonprofit founded in 2011 that rescues surplus food from 26+ restaurant and retail partners and distributes it to food-insecure families and military veterans through five programs (Share Market, Food Rescue, Street Kitchen, Bodegas, EP 4 Veterans) across multiple U.S. cities and international locations, operating entirely on donations and volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hunger Relief and Food Rescue Nonprofit

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs) (EUAIAEAH), Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Food rescue services
• Community food distribution
• Veteran support services
• Charitable food programs
• Nonprofit hunger relief

Headquarters

HQ city

Rumford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization operates entirely on donations from individuals, families, corporations, and foundations. The Take Action page states donations can range from $10 to $100 per month. No formal membership or subscription model exists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Elisha Project is a nonprofit organization that collects surplus food from restaurants and retailers and redistributes it directly to families in need through weekly community events and food assistance programs. Its offerings include five named programs: EP Share Market (weekly Saturday food box distribution), EP Food Rescue (surplus food collection and redistribution), EP Bodegas (neighborhood-style food stores), Street Kitchen (restaurant-style hot meals in underserved areas), and EP 4 Veterans (food, furniture, and essentials for military veterans). All services are provided free of charge to recipients and funded by donations.

Product overview

The Elisha Project is a community-focused food rescue and assistance organization offering five interconnected programs: EP Bodegas (neighborhood food stores), EP Food Rescue (surplus food redistribution), EP Share Market (weekly food box distribution), Street Kitchen (restaurant-style dining), and EP 4 Veterans (veteran support services). These programs work together to provide food, furniture, hygiene products, and household supplies to communities in need across multiple cities, with a focus on dignity, choice, and community connection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EP Share Market Weekly Saturday food box distribution program (10AM-1PM) operating in Rhode Island, Boston, NYC, Florida, and Houston. Volunteers prepare fresh meals and pack essential supplies for direct community distribution to families in need.
• EP Food Rescue Daily collection of surplus food from 26+ restaurant and retail partner locations, sorted at the Pawtucket warehouse, and redistributed through share markets and pop-ups to families in need.
• EP Bodegas Neighborhood-style stores providing children and families with nutritious food for the weekend, inspired by traditional corner stores and offering essential nutrition with dignity and cultural connection.
• Street Kitchen Family-style restaurant experience bringing hot, nutritious meals and community connection to disadvantaged neighborhoods across the United States, transforming public spaces into welcoming dining hubs.
• EP 4 Veterans Weekly services providing veterans with hygiene products, clothing, fresh food, and furniture, connected through a support network of veterans associations, state agencies, churches, and nonprofits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4M+ meals shared
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CVS HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCVS Health employees have participated in EP programs through closed group volunteer events and employee engagement programs. The partnership includes CVS Health PLNG (Professional Leadership Network Group) employee volunteers.
• Restaurant and Retail Partners (26+)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner26+ leading restaurants and retailers across Rhode Island and Massachusetts partner with EP's Food Rescue Program, alerting the organization about surplus food that would otherwise go to waste.
• Panera BreadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanera Bread donates bread regularly to EP Saturday distributions, providing essential items for meal preparation.
• Stop & Shop (Pea Pod Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStop & Shop's Pea Pod grocery delivery program has provided food donations through the organization.
• 240 Maintenance, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company owned by the Wilson and Brenda Davila Family, serving as EP's first corporate sponsor.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• City Harvest: New York City's largest food rescue organization, collecting surplus food and distributing it free to communities. Overlaps directly with EP's Brooklyn/Queens operations and Food Rescue + Street Kitchen model.
• Food Bank for New York City: Major NYC food bank addressing hunger through food distribution and pantry support. Directly comparable to EP's New York operations and Share Market/Bodegas programs.
• Food Rescue US: National nonprofit that uses a volunteer-driven model to transport surplus food from restaurants and grocers to communities in need. Directly comparable to EP's Food Rescue Program and weekly direct-distribution model.
• Rhode Island Community Food Bank: Statewide food bank serving the same Rhode Island geography where EP originated, distributing food through partner agencies. The most direct regional peer for EP's Share Market and Bodegas programs.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army: Long-established faith-based charity providing food assistance, shelter, and emergency relief across the U.S. Comparable to EP's faith-based identity and food/household-goods distribution programs.
• Catholic Charities USA: National faith-based social services network providing food, housing, and emergency assistance. Comparable to EP's faith-rooted, multi-program community support model, but at vastly greater scale.
• Meals on Wheels America: National nonprofit network delivering meals to seniors and vulnerable populations. Comparable to EP's Street Kitchen in providing prepared meals to those in need, though with a different delivery model.
• Feeding America: Nationwide network of 200+ food banks and the largest U.S. hunger-relief organization. A broad incumbent that addresses the same food insecurity problem at vastly greater scale than EP.

Emerging players

• Copia: Technology-driven food redistribution platform focused on reducing food waste by connecting businesses with nonprofits. Comparable to EP's Food Rescue mission but represents a tech-enabled model EP lacks.
• Replate: Tech-enabled food rescue platform connecting surplus food from businesses to nonprofits. Comparable to EP's Food Rescue Program but uses a marketplace/app model that contrasts with EP's manual approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/epfoodrescue
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheElishaProject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-elisha-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/elishaproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Elisha Project