NOTE (Tuesday, September 26, 2023): This story has been updated to include the time of Saturday's event.

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Newtown Lions Club is planning a Stuff-A-Truck event in cooperation with the Big Y World Class Market and the US Army 411th Civil Affairs Battalion. The event is scheduled for Saturday, September 30, 9 am to 5 pm, at the supermarket within Queen Street Shopping Center, 6 Queen Street.

Lion Bruce Walczak, chairman of the Newtown Lions Hunger Committee, said the event is designed “to support Fairfield County area food pantries including Daily Bread in Danbury, Bridgeport Rescue Mission in Bridgeport, Hospitality House, and FAITH Food Pantry in Newtown.”

According to Connecticut FoodShare, Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, estimates that more than 380,000 — or one in ten — Connecticut residents struggle with hunger. More than 83,000 children are food insecure.

These are people from all walks of life: children, working parents, seniors, and people living with disabilities. Without the generous work of area food banks and soup kitchens many of these individuals will go without food.

Shawn Norris, store director of the Big Y World Class Market in Newtown, notes, “The Big Y is thrilled to host an event that benefits everyone in our community.

“We are looking forward to working with the Lions and the US Army Reserves in this worthy event to restock our area food pantries.”

Newtown Lions President Andrew Iorio said, “food insecurity — hunger — is one of five major initiatives that the Newtown Lions Club is serving throughout our community. Other ways our club serves our area include helping those with low vision; vision screening of our young people; bringing greater awareness and education of diabetes; addressing environmental issues through planting of trees in our community; and helping to fund research for childhood cancer.”

President Iorio also noted that the Newtown Lions “always answer the call to serve through acts of kindness and would like to share with you that wonderful feeling of serving those in need during this important Stuff-A-Truck event.”

Organizers next weekend will have prepackaged bags of food available to purchase for the Stuff-A-Truck event. Shoppers are also welcome to do their own shopping for any number of suggested grocery items.

Volunteers will be ready to accept donations in front of the store.