FAITH Food Pantry Is Open For Business

By Shannon Hicks

FAITH Food Pantry, like so many locations across town, lost power for a few days following Tropical Storm Irene’s visit to the region on Sunday, August 28. The pantry was even forced to keep its doors closed last Tuesday, August 30 — one of just two days each week volunteers can open the doors to serve clients — but the operation is back up and running.

The food pantry located in the basement of St John’s Episcopal Church in Sandy Hook lost power for about three days last week, but is back on track this week, according to Lee Paulsen.

“We did not flood,” as was originally feared, “but we did lose power,” said the longtime co-chair of the food pantry. As a result, the food pantry lost all of the frozen and refrigerated food it had in stock.

Mrs Paulsen and her husband Chuck “did a run, with every other human being in town who lost power, to clear out that food and get it to a dumpster,” she said on Sunday, September 4. “But we are going to be fine.”

The pantry was unable to open for clients last Tuesday, but did open for its regular evening hours on Thursday, September 1.

FAITH has a few suppliers who regularly keep its refrigerator and freezer stocked with dairy foods and meat, so there is not currently a public cry for help to restock those items.

The cabinets that house nonperishable foods are fine right now. It would have benefited from a large injection of donations on Monday, September 5, however, had the Fourth Annual One Can Make(s) A Difference collection taken plan during the Labor Day Parade. Initiated by Girl Scout Breanne Lubinsky for the 2008 Newtown Labor Day Parade, coordination of the collection has been handed over to Boy Scout Spencer Erhardt now that Miss Lubinsky has headed off to college.

Spencer is working on his Eagle Scout Project, and has already worked on rebuilding shelves for the pantry. A group of volunteers had been prepared to walk the Labor Day Parade route on Monday, collecting nonperishables and financial donations which would have been taken directly to the pantry. With the announcement on Friday, September 2, that this year’s Labor Day Parade has been postponed while Newtown continues to recover from Irene, the influx of donations has also been postponed.

“We are OK, but we will always accept donations,” Mrs Paulsen said. In addition to food, the pantry also accepts donations of personal hygiene items for babies, children, and adults.

“Right now we are actually stocked, but I don’t know for how long. It’s scary out there,” she added.

FAITH Food Pantry is a volunteer organization that has supplied food for more than 28 years to any Newtown resident in need. The food pantry, in the basement of St John’s Episcopal Church, 5 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook, is open to help all residents regardless of faith. One of two public food pantries in town (the other being the Salvation Army Food Pantry, at the Social Services office at 3 Main Street), FAITH, which stands for Food Assistance Immediate Temporary Help, depends on donations to stock its shelves and appreciates canned meats, soup, and canned fruits and vegetables, and pasta.

Financial donations are also welcomed, and are used to stock the pantry with foods that may not be received through donations. FAITH is a 501(c)(3) organization, so donations are tax-deductible.

The pantry is open on Tuesday mornings from 10 am until noon and Thursdays from 6 to 8 pm.

For additional information about volunteering, donating or helping FAITH Food Pantry in any way, contact Lee Paulsen at 203-426-5604.

Sunday Collection Planned

Gavin Preis and Rich Greenawalt are organizing a Newtown Food Drive collection to take place at Caraluzzi’s Newtown Market, 5 Queen Street, from 10:15 until noon, rain or shine, on Sunday, September 11.

Look for them in the northern section of the parking lot, near Toro. They are primarily seeking nonperishables.

“We have a hard time keeping food cold while we’re collecting,” explained Mr Preis. All donations will be appreciated, and will be forwarded to FAITH Food Pantry.

In the event of heavy rain or for additional information, including specific items the pantry may be in need of, contact Lee Paulsen.