Southport Congregational Church feels strongly in our responsibility to help our neighbors in the greater Bridgeport community.  

Besides our financial support, we were always looking for ways to provide hands-on work for those in need.  In response to those requests, in 2012, Rev. Laura Whitmore created a non-profit organization called In Our Own Backyard.  

Over the past 7 years, In Our Own Backyard has done landscaping for many of our charities, provided 3,000 lunches to children in need in Norwalk, provided 1,800 backpacks filled with school supplies, provided Christmas parties and gifts to homeless women and children, held 2 clean-up events post Super Storm Sandy, painted apartments for abused women, painted porches and decks, weeded, built vegetable gardens, and provided bi-weekly summer BBQ's and games for a local shelter for abused women and children, to name a few.

People from the Southport and Fairfield communities have joined the church members on this endeavor, making our work even more meaningful.  Supported by generous donations of individuals and backed by the Mission and Outreach Board of Southport Congregational Church, In Our Own Backyard has truly lived up to its motto of "Friends helping Friends, In Our Own Backyard."