nOURish BRIDGEPORT Inc.

What nOURish BRIDGEPORT Inc. does

nOURish BRIDGEPORT Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2009 and incorporated in 2010, headquartered at 2200 North Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The organization operates a portfolio of direct-service programs addressing food insecurity, food deserts, and adjacent education needs in Bridgeport and Fairfield County. Core programs include the Super Food Pantry and Baby Center (weekly distribution serving 39,523 individuals in 2025 and the only Baby Center in the South End and West Side of Bridgeport), Feel the Warmth mobile community supper (200–300 meals every Thursday evening at Harrison Apartments, totaling approximately 12,000 meals annually), English Language and Citizenship classes, and seasonal programs including the Thanksgiving Feast in a Box (500 families / 3,500 meals) and the Stratfield Sunday Farmers' Market.

The organization's most differentiated operational asset is the nOURish INDOOR FARM, Connecticut's first non-profit indoor hydroponic farm, which uses four growing modalities (freight farm, fork farms, dutch bucket systems, and Flex acre) to produce vegetables and fruits 365 days per year, 24 hours per day, using only water, light, and nutrients with no soil or pesticides. Produce is distributed to Bridgeport Public Schools, other pantries, and soup kitchens. nOURish also operates an Online Store (produce and merchandise, including a Sound Coffee "nOURish Blend") and active content/blog distribution via nOURish BLOGPORT.

The operating model is volunteer-powered (approximately 2,500 adults and youth annually) and community-anchored, supported by a small core staff (12 employees) and a 16+ member volunteer board led by founder and President/CEO Reverend Sara D. Smith, Esq. Revenue is generated entirely through individual donations, foundation grants, state grants (including a share of the April 2026 $1.55M Lamont state grant pool), signature fundraising events (the annual "Hope Blooms in Bridgeport" fundraiser, which raised over $750,000 in 2025 against a $700,000 goal with $100K matching), online store sales, and ancillary cost-recovery through Connecticut Foodshare. All direct food and education services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries; there is no traditional B2B pricing model. The organization sits within a dense ecosystem of partners including Connecticut Foodshare, Haven's Harvest, Food Rescue (Fairfield County), Whole Foods' Metro Kitchen, the Center for Family Justice, St. Vincent's / Hartford Healthcare, and various faith-based and community organizations.

Name

nOURish BRIDGEPORT Inc.

Legal name

nOURish BRIDGEPORT Inc.

Website

https://nourishbpt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

nOURish BRIDGEPORT Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating direct-service food, education, and hydroponic farming programs for food-insecure individuals and families in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Fairfield County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Assistance

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Mobile Food Services (72233)

akta.pro primary industry

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Safety, Sanitation & Healthy Food Environment Programs (EDACAMAM), Food Services Administration (Meal Eligibility, POS, Nutrition Compliance) (EDAJAHAJ)

Keywords

• Food assistance services
• Community hunger relief
• Indoor hydroponic farming
• English language classes
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bridgeport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct monetary contributions from individuals via website donation portal (Square/Stripe), Cash App, Apple Pay, and credit cards. Stock donations accepted through Cambridge Trust financial advisors.
2. Foundation and Grant Funding: Funding from private foundations and government grants. The organization was mentioned as receiving $1.55 million in state grants announced by Governor Lamont in April 2026.
3. Food Purchasing (Cost Recovery): As a partner agency of Connecticut Foodshare, nOURish purchases food through Foodshare's Grocery Purchasing Program at cost, which is resold to partner agencies at cost. This is a cost-recovery model, not revenue-generating.
4. Online Store Sales: Produce and merchandise sold through the nOURish BRIDGEPORT Online Store, including specialty coffee blends such as 'The nOURish Blend' in partnership with Sound Coffee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

nOURish BRIDGEPORT Inc. operates a portfolio of direct service programs addressing food insecurity in Bridgeport, CT, including a weekly Super Food Pantry, the only Baby Center in the South End and West Side of Bridgeport, a mobile Feel the Warmth hot supper program, English Language and Citizenship classes, and Connecticut's first nonprofit indoor hydroponic farm. The organization distributes fresh produce year-round to schools, pantries, and soup kitchens, and supplements its food supply through partnerships with Connecticut Foodshare, Haven's Harvest, and Food Rescue.

Product overview

nOURish BRIDGEPORT Inc. is a food-centered, volunteer-powered, community-anchored 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization offering multiple direct service programs. The portfolio includes: Super Food Pantry & Baby Center (weekly grocery distribution serving 3,000+ individuals and the only Baby Center in South End/West Side Bridgeport), Feel the Warmth Community Supper (12,000 annual hot meals), English Language & Citizenship Classes (ESL/education), nOURish INDOOR FARM (Connecticut's first non-profit hydroponic farm), seasonal programs (Thanksgiving Feast in a Box, Urban Work Camp, Stratfield Farmers' Market), annual Hope Blooms fundraiser, nOURish BLOGPORT content platform, and an Online Store. All programs are volunteer-powered with approximately 2,500 volunteers annually, focusing on mitigating food scarcity and food insecurity in Bridgeport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• nOURish INDOOR FARM: Connecticut's first not-for-profit indoor hydroponic farm, growing vegetables and fruits 365 days/year using water, light, and nutrients without dirt or pesticides. Uses freight farm, fork farms, dutch bucket systems, and Flex acre growing modalities.
• Super Food Pantry & Baby Center
• Feel the Warmth
• English Language & Citizenship Classes
• Feast in a Box

Products and services

• Super Food Pantry & Baby Center A walk-in grocery distribution program operating every Wednesday 2pm-5:30pm at 2200 North Avenue, Bridgeport, providing perishable and non-perishable food plus fresh produce to over 3,000 individuals weekly (500 families) in a shoppers-choice setting with no eligibility requirements. The on-site Baby Center provides diapers, infant formula, baby food, and wipes to 400 babies each month and is the only Baby Center in the South End and West Side of Bridgeport.
• Feel the Warmth Community Supper A mobile community hot supper program serving 200-300 meals every Thursday evening at Harrison Apartments (651 State St, Bridgeport), providing approximately 12,000 meals annually to unhoused and transitionally housed neighbors. Meals are cooked at the nOURish CENTER and incorporate fresh produce from the indoor hydroponic farm.
• English Language & Citizenship Classes An ESL and citizenship education program offering spoken English at beginner and advanced levels, financial literacy, English reading, computer technology, and pathways to citizenship, supported by approximately 50 volunteers across three trimesters. Designed for immigrants and refugees in the Bridgeport community.
• nOURish INDOOR FARM Connecticut's first nonprofit indoor hydroponic farm, cultivating vegetables and fruits 365 days/year, 24 hours/day using only water, light, and nutrients (no dirt, no pesticides). Uses four distinct growing modalities — freight farm, fork farms, dutch bucket systems, and Flex acre — and distributes fresh produce to Bridgeport Public Schools, pantries, soup kitchens, and direct-service organizations across the city.
• Thanksgiving Feast in a Box An annual Thanksgiving program providing complete ready-to-cook Thanksgiving dinners to 500 families (totaling 3,500 meals), including translated preparation instructions so families can cook the meal at home.
• Urban Work Camp An urban immersion experience program educating suburban youth on urban poverty and food insecurity through hands-on activities including sleeping in a shelter, volunteering at the community supper, shopping with EBT/SNAP benefits, and cooking meals from pantry groceries. In 2022, 50 youth and 20 adults participated from New Canaan, Brookfield, Trumbull, Fairfield, and surrounding areas.
• Stratfield Sunday Farmers' Market A farmers' market held May through October (12pm-3pm) at 2200 North Ave, Bridgeport, bringing fresh produce and healthy ready-to-eat food to approximately 200 neighbors weekly in neighborhoods with major food scarcity. Many vendors accept WIC and EBT.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• WPKN 89.5 FM Community RadiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Nonprofit partnership with WPKN community radio station (Bridgeport, est. 1963) for 2026. Reverend Sara Smith was interviewed on WPKN's 'Digging In The Dirt' podcast about nOURish BRIDGEPORT and the indoor farm. Partnership aims to amplify stories connecting food, culture, and community.
• Connecticut Foodshare / Connecticut Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnecticut Foodshare is the main food bank for Connecticut. nOURish BRIDGEPORT is one of over 650 partner agencies. Foodshare provides the vast majority of groceries distributed weekly at the Super Food Pantry. nOURish purchases food through Foodshare's Grocery Purchasing Program (GPP) at cost, and benefits from Foodshare's value-added produce processes and 40,000-pound deliveries five days a week. TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) constitutes approximately 25% of Foodshare's food supply.
• Haven's HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHaven's Harvest is a food rescue agency serving the Greater New Haven area. They connected nOURish BRIDGEPORT with Whole Foods' Metro Kitchen, selecting nOURish as the distribution hub for food rescues coming from their kitchens to pantries and soup kitchens across Bridgeport. This expanded nOURish's role to serve as a community distribution hub.
• Food Rescue (Fairfield County)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood Rescue (founded 2011 by Jeff Schacher and Kevin Mullins) connects food retailers with agencies like nOURish BRIDGEPORT using a volunteer-powered app-based model. Over 450 rescues occur weekly in Fairfield County alone. The organization operates in 43 locations across 20 states with 20,000+ volunteers. nOURish relies on Food Rescue almost weekly to supplement food bank supplies with fresh produce that otherwise might go to waste.
• Northwest Connecticut Regional Food HubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA regional food hub that supplies fresh produce to nOURish BRIDGEPORT, complementing Connecticut Foodshare and Food Rescue in the organization's food sourcing ecosystem.
• The Center for Family JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnernOURish BRIDGEPORT provides groceries safely and discreetly to families in crisis referred through The Center for Family Justice. This partnership ensures that families experiencing domestic violence or family crisis have access to food assistance. nOURish was named 'Non-Profit Partner of the Year' by The Center for Family Justice in 2020.
• Sound CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSound Coffee (Jeff and Sarah, Black Rock, Bridgeport) roasts a special 'nOURish Blend' available through the nOURish BRIDGEPORT Online Store. This partnership supports local business community engagement and provides a revenue stream for nOURish. Sound Coffee founder Jeff volunteers at the Super Food Pantry.
• Whole Foods' Metro KitchencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWhole Foods' Metro Kitchen food rescues are channeled through Haven's Harvest to nOURish BRIDGEPORT as the distribution hub for food rescues to pantries and soup kitchens across Bridgeport.
• Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport (CCGB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Bridgeport's faith-based community network. Listed among nOURish's community partners on the About page.
• Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI / CIRICT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIRI awarded Reverend Sara D. Smith and nOURish BRIDGEPORT the 'American Dream Award' in 2020 for refugee resettlement and integration work. The organization supports nOURish's ESL and Citizenship program for immigrants and refugees.
• Alpha (YMCA Location)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a community partner on the nOURish About page. Alpha is a YMCA location in Bridgeport.
• St. Vincent's Hospital / Hartford HealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Vincent's Diabetic Research Study partnered with nOURish BRIDGEPORT to provide salad kits from the nOURish INDOOR FARM to study participants on a bi-weekly basis. Participants showed significant health improvements, including Sherylyn Garner reducing A1C from 12.8% to 6.7%. Dr. Chambers of Hartford Healthcare referred patients to the study.
• Mission/Mitzvah Partner OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeveral organizations have taken the official step of becoming 'mission/mitzvah' partners, committing financial and human resources to help serve neighbors in need in Bridgeport. These include corporate groups, faith organizations, and youth groups that conduct service projects at nOURish BRIDGEPORT.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit focused on affordable access to locally grown produce via doubling SNAP/EBT at farmers' markets. Directly comparable to nOURish's Stratfield Sunday Farmers' Market and Indoor Farm produce-distribution programs.
• Corbin Hill Food Project: NYC-based food justice nonprofit that operates fresh-produce 'Share' subscriptions and food access programs. Comparable in mission (produce-as-equity, food access for low-income households) and Community-Supported-Agriculture adjacent distribution model.

Others

• Local Matters: Columbus, OH-based food education and access nonprofit. Comparable in combining food-distribution with food-education programming, analogous to nOURish's combination of pantry services with ESL/Urban Work Camp education components.

Direct peers

• City Harvest: New York City's largest food rescue organization. Closest comparable in mission and operating model (rescuing surplus food, distributing to pantries, mobile markets) at materially larger scale, providing a useful growth benchmark for nOURish-style food-rescue operations.
• Connecticut Foodshare: Connecticut's main regional food bank and nOURish's primary wholesale supplier. nOURish is one of 650+ partner agencies, and the comparable mission — sourcing and distributing groceries to food-insecure households — is essentially the same, but at statewide scale.
• Haven's Harvest: Greater New Haven food rescue nonprofit that connects Whole Foods' Metro Kitchen and others to nOURish BRIDGEPORT. Shares the nOURish food-rescue/redistribution model and southern-Connecticut service geography.
• Food Rescue (Fairfield County): App-based volunteer-driven food rescue organization that picks up surplus food from retailers and delivers it to agencies like nOURish. Operates in 43 locations across 20 states with 20,000+ volunteers, comparable in volunteer-driven model and food-rescue/anti-waste mission.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National network of 200+ food banks and the largest U.S. hunger-relief organization. Operates significantly upstream of nOURish (wholesale food supply vs. direct distribution) but is the sector anchor and an indirect funder via Connecticut Foodshare's membership.
• Food Bank for New York City: Large urban food bank serving NYC. Comparable in feeding-food-insecure-urban-residents mission but operates at metropolitan scale with substantially more staff and budget.

Regional players

• The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts: Regional food bank serving western Massachusetts. Similar mission (food sourcing and distribution to partner pantries) but operating in a different New England geography than nOURish.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nOURishBridgeport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nourish-bridgeport

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 nOURish BRIDGEPORT Inc.