MEALS, SHELTER AND SUPPORT
Thomas Merton Family Center
Bridgeport (Greater Bridgeport area)
The Thomas Merton Family Center is committed to providing a loving, safe and hope-filled community atmosphere that responds to the needs of its guests. Respecting the dignity of each person, we reflect to the individual and the community our shared responsibility to love and support one another. We believe the sharing of a hot meal is an invitation to come in and share in a place where one can belong; respect and love are mutually given and received; each person is valued and not to be judged; and healing life’s hurts is possible with people who care. Collaboration with other agencies and people is essential to meeting the needs of those we serve.
Services
- Dining Services:
- Serving breakfast & lunch daily from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM.
- Over 300 guests served each day.
- Connie’s Eat Smart Food Pantry:
- Among the largest in Bridgeport, provides 5 days of nutritious meals each week.
- Guests select groceries with dignity in a grocery store setting.
- New cooking classes for healthy eating and community-building.
- Case Management:
- Helping guests break poverty cycles through intake assessments, action plans, resource connections, and advocacy.
- Mail Program:
- Provides a secure mailing address for those without one, enabling access to Social Security, Medical, and EBT cards.
- Shower Program:
- Warm showers, clean towels, toiletries, and new socks, underwear, and t-shirts provided to guests.
- Immigration Legal Services:
- DOJ-accredited Catholic Charities team offers affordable, reliable legal counseling to navigate citizenship and family reunification.
- Housing Assistance:
- Support in finding housing for homeless and housing-insecure guests, managing limited resources.
- Partnerships and Future Collaborations:
- With Southwest Community Health Center, CT State Community College, STRIVE/Career Resources Job Training, ESL and Financial Literacy Classes.
Events
Stay tuned for our upcoming events!
Who to Contact
Main: (203) 367-9036
Fax: (203) 367-8828
Director, Nick Martinez
[email protected]
Donor Relations, Marianne Kahn
[email protected]
Volunteer Coordinator, Karen Frissora
[email protected]
Location
1406 State Street
Bridgeport, CT 06605
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Service Hours
Monday – Friday:
Breakfast: 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Lunch: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Tuesday, Thursday:
Shower Program
Eat Smart Food Pantry Schedule
The Thomas Merton Family Center Food Pantry will be open for shopping on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Under the new schedule, we will be dividing shopping days by last name. Each family will still shop just once a month. To find yourshopping day, please see the chart below:
TUESDAYS: Last names beginning with A, B, C, D, E, F, G
WEDNESDAYS: Last names beginning with H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P
THURSDAYS: Last names beginning with Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
The pantry will hold open registration for new families every Monday from 10 am to 1 pm. We will no longer require advance appointments for registration.
Thomas Merton Family Center Advisory Council
Edna Borchetta
Sheila Clancy
Lourdes Delgado
Jack Edwards
Thomas Gaudett
Louise Gidez
Mark Kelly
George Logan
Fred Lord
Alberto Martins
Bill Tommins
Jo Toolan
Darren Toth
Alexandros Valiantis
Stories from Thomas Merton Family Center
Watch the videos below to learn more about how Thomas Merton Family Center makes a difference in the lives of guests.
MORE FROM THOMAS MERTON FAMILY CENTER
Operations and Administration Department Lead – Thomas Merton Family Center
The Thomas Merton Family Center, a program of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County is seeking an Operations and Administration Department Lead (“OADL). Reporting to the Director of the Thomas Merton Family Center (TMFC), this full-time, benefits-eligible position supports the Director in all day-to-day management of services, including the supervision of staff, volunteers, and Title V workers. The OADL assists the Director with fostering the growth and sustainability of TMFC’s food services, case management, and immigration services programs. The OADL collaborates with the Director to promote TMFC in the community, to build out the programmatic life of the center, and to fully integrate the center’s various sub-programs into a cohesive and collaborative whole. The OADL assists the Director in further structuring and formalizing key aspects of the center’s internal processes, including the creation and maintenance of internal file-sharing structures/processes and the creation of formal internal onboarding and training materials. The OADL is responsible for supervision of the program in the absence of the Director.
Thomas Merton Family Center Announces the 31st Annual Celebrity Breakfast Featuring Darryl Strawberry to Support Expanding Community Needs
BRIDGEPORT, CT – The Thomas Merton Family Center, a cornerstone of compassion and support operated by Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, invites the community to its 31st Annual Celebrity Breakfast. This cherished event will take place on May 22nd from 7:00 AM -...
Empowering Guests Through Cooking at Thomas Merton Family Center
At the Thomas Merton Family Center (TMFC), every meal served and every bag of groceries distributed through the food pantry carries a deeper purpose: nourishing not just the body but also the spirit of community. It was in this spirit that a simple question from pantry guests sparked an initiative that would empower them far beyond the kitchen.