Bessie Green Community

Organization Overview: Established in 1978, Bessie Green Community, Inc. began as a vision sparked by the generosity of Bessie Green, a member of the North Reformed Church in Newark, New Jersey. Mrs. Green's act of donating her fur coat in the 1970s set the foundation for our organization's commitment to serving the homeless and underprivileged in Newark. Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charity, we operate a clothing barn, soup kitchen, and food pantry, addressing the critical needs of our community. Today, we operate in areas classified as food deserts, striving to overcome barriers to access exacerbated by economic, geographical, and pandemic-related challenges. Our mission is to feed, clothe, and support our neighbors with compassion and dignity, offering a range of services from food and clothing provision to life skills education and social service assistance.