Bring A Can To The Parade

To the Editor:

This year I am doing 1 Can Make(s) A Difference (orange shirts) again in the Labor Day Parade. I am asking everyone who comes to the parade to bring 1 can in a plastic bag, put it along the side of the parade route and we will collect it. I am doing this food drive for the FAITH Food Pantry in St John’s Church in Sandy Hook.

In the month of June, FAITH Food served 87 families, 181 clients, and gave out 3,801 meals to Newtown residents! When I went to the pantry, the shelves were empty and both back store rooms were empty. Last year parade watchers brought 2,455 items, which helped feed the clients for six weeks and stocked the shelves to the ceiling. This year, especially with the economy, it has been hard for the pantry to keep up with its clients’ needs. This year I wish to help them for a longer period of time. At Thanksgiving and Christmas there are food drives but most people forget that hunger is a year-round thing. This year my goal is to collect 2,000 items.

Here is a list of food that you can donate: canned spaghetti sauce; complete pancake mix; syrup; peanut butter; jelly; canned fruit/vegetables; canned stew/hash; macaroni and cheese; healthy kids’ snacks; coffee; canned fruit; healthy cereal; Chef Boyardee; rice/beans; toothpaste/brush; shampoo/soap; toilet paper.

Currently, the pantry has enough soup and pasta.

Please check all expiration dates!

Cash donations will also acceptable at the parade.

Thank you very much for your help, Newtown. You help prove that 1 Can Make a Difference!

Sincerely,

Breanne Lubinsky

Junior, Newtown High School

73 Flat Swamp Road, Newtown                                                                     September 1, 2009