Bridgeport Food Bank reopens in Wellspring of Life Church

BRIDGEPORT – The Bridgeport Food Bank that closed unexpectedly two years ago reopened its doors on Friday, April 3, in the same space it once occupied, but under the name of a different church and under the guidance of new pastors.

Carlos and Zuni Henriquez who arrived in Bridgeport early in 2019 to open the Wellspring of Life Community Church in the Foursquare building at 1300 Foster Avenue knew well before they held the official ribbon cutting ceremony last June 29 that the building was the site of the Bridgeport Food Bank that closed its doors the previous year. At that time the space was the home of the Bridgeport Community Church which had operated the food bank for 25 years.

The loss of the church pastor and shortly thereafter the closure of the church left the food bank with nowhere to relocate despite the best attempts by Bridgeport Mayor Janet Conklin and food bank manager Rayna Skiff. Without a building that could provide adequate space and liability insurance to house food distribution services the food bank had no recourse but to close its doors, forcing many families to look to the Brewster Food Bank as the closest available food source.

When the new pastors approached Mayor Conklin she put them in touch with Britany Meiklen, Director of Food Distribution Center in Chelan.

“We have been in touch since 2019 working together to make this happen,” said Zuni. “As of March 28, we picked up 20 boxes from Mansfield and by Monday they were gone.”

The food bank received another 40 boxes of food last Friday, April 3, and with more than 100 cars already waiting the food was gone by 12:30 p.m., well before the announced 7 p.m. distribution hour.

Zuni said the food is being distributed in compliance with current social distancing guidelines by placing the food in the vehicles so customers can remain in their cars.

“They (National Guard) did come today and helped us,” said Zuni. “Alan Walker, Executive Director of the Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council came in personally to deliver the boxes of food.”

Zuni said the National Guard will be helping Wellspring’s food bank every Friday through April.