Project Restore Us
Project Restore Us is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Greater Boston that leverages restaurant wholesale supply chains to distribute culturally relevant, affordable groceries to families in food deserts, operating programs including the SNAP Stopgap Initiative and the Bridge Essentials Project for youth.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBrighton, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Project Restore Us does
Project Restore Us (PRU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 2020 and headquartered in Brighton, Massachusetts, with operations across Greater Boston including Boston, Cambridge, Everett, Medford, and Malden. The organization addresses food insecurity in urban food deserts by procuring food through the restaurant wholesale supply chain — a structurally distinct channel that enables 20-50% cost savings on groceries compared to conventional retail channels. Since inception, PRU has delivered 400 tons of food directly to families in need, with every $0.75 donated funding one meal.
PRU operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: the SNAP Stopgap Initiative provides rapid-response grocery delivery to families facing interruptions in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits; The Bridge Essentials Project (launched 2025 in partnership with Moses Youth Center) reimagines the food pantry model for homeless, underprivileged, and marginalized youth; community dinners and food pantry stocking programs operate at local youth centers; monthly grocery box delivery reaches families in food deserts via volunteer drivers; subsidized dried goods are sold at Boston Housing Authority complexes; and culinary classes for youth incorporate kitchen skills, food systems education, and leadership development. Distribution is executed through community organizations, youth centers, restaurants, and housing authorities, with volunteer drivers handling last-mile delivery.
The organization is volunteer-led with approximately 10 employees and is funded by individual donations, corporate donations, and grant funding from foundations and government programs. It was co-founded by Dr. Marena Lin (climate scientist and food security researcher), Chef Tracy Chang (Chef/Owner of PAGU, 2020 James Beard Best Chef Northeast nominee), Chef Irene Li (Chef/Owner of Mei Mei, 2020 James Beard Rising Star Chef finalist), and Lily Huang (Director of Mass Jobs for Justice). No external investment or venture capital funding is indicated.
Project Restore Us firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Project Restore Us
- Legal name
- Project Restore Us, Inc.
- Website
- https://projectrestoreus.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Project Restore Us is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Greater Boston that leverages restaurant wholesale supply chains to distribute culturally relevant, affordable groceries to families in food deserts, operating programs including the SNAP Stopgap Initiative and the Bridge Essentials Project for youth.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Project Restore Us industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Security Services
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (62421)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)
Keywords
Where Project Restore Us is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brighton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Project Restore Us business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Funded by individual donors who contribute to support food distribution operations in Greater Boston communities.
- Corporate Donations: Companies make donations to support PRU's mission of providing affordable groceries to food desert communities.
- Grant Funding: Operations funded by grants from foundations and government programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donation-based model: $0.75 = 1 meal |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Project Restore Us product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Project Restore Us distributes affordable, culturally relevant groceries to families in food deserts across Greater Boston by procuring food through the restaurant wholesale supply chain at 20–50% below grocery retail cost. Services include monthly grocery box home delivery, subsidized dried goods markets at Boston Housing Authority complexes, community dinners at local youth centers, food pantry stocking, and a SNAP Stopgap rapid-response program. Operations are funded entirely by individual and corporate donations plus grants; recipients receive food at no cost or at subsidized prices.
Product overview
Project Restore Us is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating a community-based food distribution model in Greater Boston. The organization offers multiple interconnected programs: the SNAP Stopgap Initiative provides rapid grocery delivery to families facing SNAP benefit interruptions; The Bridge Essentials Project (launching 2025) reimagines the food pantry model for youth; community dinners and food pantry stocking programs leverage the restaurant supply chain for culturally relevant food; grocery box delivery serves families in food deserts monthly; subsidized dried goods are sold at Boston Housing Authority complexes; and culinary classes develop youth kitchen skills. The programs work together to provide food security while maintaining dignity and community agency.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SNAP Stopgap Initiative
- The Bridge Essentials Project
- Community Dinners Program
- Food Pantry Stocking
- Dry Goods Delivery to Partner Network
- Grocery Box Home Delivery
- Subsidized Dried Goods Sales
- Culinary Classes for Youth
Quantifiable outcome
- 400 tons of food delivered directly to families in need between 2020-today
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Project Restore Us
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Project Restore Us technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Project Restore Us partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PAGU RestaurantcoreChef Tracy Chang co-founded PRU with PAGU restaurant. During COVID-19, PAGU and Mei Mei delivered 50 tons of food in the first 2 months. PAGU hosts Technology and Sustainability Roundtable events.
- Mei Mei RestaurantcoreChef Irene Li piloted the first weekly deliveries from Mei Mei Restaurant to 250 Latinx families in Everett, MA starting May 4, 2020. Mei Mei contributed to the initial 50 tons of food delivery.
- Mass Jobs with JusticecoreLily Huang from Mass Jobs with Justice co-founded PRU. She helped expand geographic reach and develop movement leaders. Deep organizing experience in Boston and other Massachusetts cities.
- Moses Youth Centercore2025 partner for The Bridge Essentials Project supporting homeless, underprivileged, and marginalized youth. Programming includes culinary classes, community dinners, and food distribution to families.
- UFCW 1445minorCommunity partner organization working with PRU to build trusted relationships with families impacted by food insecurity.
- Boston Community PediatricsminorHealthcare provider partner for SNAP Stopgap Initiative helping identify households facing urgent food need.
- Chinese Progressive AssociationminorCommunity partner organization supporting PRU's food distribution efforts in Greater Boston.
- Eastie FarmminorCommunity partner organization in East Boston working with PRU.
- Friends of BostonminorCommunity partner organization supporting PRU's mission.
- La Comunidad Inc.minorCommunity partner organization working with PRU for food distribution.
- Solidarity SupplyminorPartner organization for food distribution operations.
- Off Their PlateminorGrassroots initiative co-founded by Chef Tracy Chang to feed frontline healthcare workers while restoring restaurant jobs. PRU emerged from collaboration during this initiative.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Project Restore Us competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Food Project: Greater Boston-based non-profit that grows and distributes food while engaging youth in sustainable agriculture. Comparable as a regional food access and youth-empowerment non-profit serving similar Greater Boston communities.
- CommonWealth Kitchen: Boston-based non-profit food business incubator and food access organization supporting small food entrepreneurs. Comparable to PRU given its food system mission in Greater Boston and Chef Irene Li's board involvement with both organizations.
- Project Bread: Massachusetts statewide anti-hunger organization focused on food access and SNAP advocacy. Directly comparable as a Massachusetts-based food security non-profit, and notably one of Chef Irene Li's board affiliations, indicating close ecosystem overlap with PRU.
- Boston Area Gleaners: Massachusetts non-profit that gleans surplus farm produce and distributes to food insecure communities. Comparable as a Greater Boston food rescue and distribution non-profit addressing food access through community partnerships.
- Community Servings: Boston-based non-profit providing medically tailored meals and food services to individuals and families affected by critical illness. Comparable as a Greater Boston food access non-profit operating community meal programs with cultural and dietary sensitivity.
- Lovin' Spoonfuls: Massachusetts-based food rescue non-profit that facilitates the delivery of surplus food to hunger relief organizations. Directly comparable — Chef Irene Li serves on its board — and shares PRU's mission of redirecting food to those experiencing food insecurity.
- Haley House: Boston-based non-profit using food as a tool for social and economic justice through food service, urban farming, and direct assistance. Comparable given its overlapping mission around food access and dignity — Chef Irene Li serves on Haley House's board alongside her PRU involvement.
- Greater Boston Food Bank: The largest hunger-relief organization in New England, distributing food across Eastern Massachusetts through a partner agency network. Directly comparable to PRU as a regional food assistance non-profit operating in the same Greater Boston geography with overlapping beneficiary populations.
Emerging players
- About Fresh: Boston-area non-profit operating Fresh Connect, a prepaid debit card program enabling SNAP beneficiaries to purchase fresh produce. Comparable as a Greater Boston food security non-profit using innovative program design to address food access gaps.
Regional players
- Food Bank of Western Massachusetts: Regional food bank serving Western Massachusetts with a similar mission of distributing food to those experiencing food insecurity. Comparable in mission and operational model but operates in a non-overlapping geography within Massachusetts.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Project Restore Us social profiles
Digital presenceProject Restore Us compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Project Restore Us financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Project Restore Us leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Project Restore Us funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Project Restore Us M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Project Restore Us
What does Project Restore Us do?
Project Restore Us distributes affordable, culturally relevant groceries to families in food deserts across Greater Boston by procuring food through the restaurant wholesale supply chain at 20–50% below grocery retail cost. Services include monthly grocery box home delivery, subsidized dried goods markets at Boston Housing Authority complexes, community dinners at local youth centers, food pantry stocking, and a SNAP Stopgap rapid-response program. Operations are funded entirely by individual and corporate donations plus grants; recipients receive food at no cost or at subsidized prices.
Is Project Restore Us a public or private company?
Project Restore Us is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Project Restore Us founded?
Project Restore Us was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Project Restore Us based?
Project Restore Us is headquartered in Brighton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Project Restore Us make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Donations and grant Funding.
Who are Project Restore Us's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Food Project, CommonWealth Kitchen, Project Bread, Boston Area Gleaners, Community Servings, Lovin' Spoonfuls, Haley House and Greater Boston Food Bank. About Fresh is listed as an emerging player. Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is listed as a regional player.
Does Project Restore Us have an API?
No public API is recorded for Project Restore Us.
What industry is Project Restore Us in?
Project Restore Us's product category is Food Security Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAAAD, Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding). Its NAICS code is 62421 and its SIC code is 5140.