Bridgeport Hospital Food Pantry To Mark Major Food Distribution Milestone

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Bridgeport Hospital and CT Foodshare will reach a milestone later this month when the hospital’s mobile food pantry serves its 20,000th food allotment since launching in 2019.

The mobile pantry, which typically provides food to about 200 households per distribution, will reach the milestone during its Nov. 26 event, hospital officials said. The program operates through a partnership with CT Foodshare and relies on hospital volunteers and community organizations.

"We are incredibly proud to reach this milestone," said Gina Smith, manager of community health in the Office of Health Equity and Community Impact at Bridgeport Hospital. "We see firsthand how many families in our community face challenges meeting their basic needs. Through partnerships like this one with CT Foodshare, we’re not just addressing food insecurity — we’re helping relieve stress for families and showing them that their community cares."

The Nov. 26 food pantry will open at 9 a.m., earlier than usual, to account for CT Foodshare offices closing early ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Numbers will be distributed to those in line beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Participants will receive the regular CT Foodshare food allotment, along with an additional bag of shelf-stable holiday food items provided through a Northeast Medical Group Community Outreach Committee food drive. Supplies will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the Bridgeport Fire Department are expected to help distribute food at the event.

Future mobile pantry distributions at Bridgeport Hospital are scheduled for Dec. 10, Jan. 7 and Jan. 21.

A full list of pantry dates is available at www.ctfoodshare.org.