On Saturday, October 12, Newtown Lions Club, in collaboration with the Monroe Lions Club, will be collecting food to donate to local food pantries.

The initiative is part of a statewide program called “Connecticut Lions Feeding the Hungry.” Lions across Connecticut will be holding food drives on the same day to benefit their local pantries.

Members of the Newtown and Monroe clubs will be at Stop & Shop in Newtown, at 228 South Main Street (Sand Hill Plaza), on Saturday. Monroe Lions will be collecting for their food pantry from 11 am until 2 pm. Newtown Lions will be collecting for FAITH Food Pantry from 2 to 5 pm.

Among the items requested by the nondenominational FAITH Food Pantry are canned peas, canned corn, and canned fruit, beef stew, corned beef hash, canned pasta, pasta sauce, tomato paste, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo and conditioner, apple juice, cranberry juice, dish soap and coffee.