Food Pantries Bounce Back Following Storm

By Nancy K. Crevier

The FAITH Food Pantry in St John’s Episcopal Church, Sandy Hook Center, may have lost all of the meats and refrigerated items during Storm Alfred, October 29 to 30, but the coordinators of the program have not lost faith in the generosity of Newtown residents. And thanks to that bounteousness, the more than 100 families in need in the community who frequent FAITH Food Pantry will be able to truly give thanks around the Thanksgiving table next week.

“We are back up and running,” said volunteer Lee Paulson, Wednesday, November 15. “Newtown is an unbelievable town. Yesterday, all of these people walked in with apples, oranges, onions, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and all kinds of things. Fresh fruit is such a wonderful donation, especially,” said Ms Paulsen.

Then last week, a man came in with a donation, and asked the volunteers what else was needed.

“I said we needed about ten turkeys for the families who would come in on the 17th,” Ms Paulsen said. “On Saturday, I got a message. He had gotten the ten turkeys for us, as well as cases of sweet potatoes, stuffing mix, and cranberry sauce. I couldn’t believe it — and then he said thanks to us for what we do. There are a lot of good people,” she said.

To her amazement, said Ms Paulsen, one of the local school bus drivers met her Monday and Tuesday of this week, each time bearing a large turkey for donation. Ms Paulsen said she was astounded that someone at risk of losing her own job would be so generous.

The lackluster economy has affected an ever-increasing number of Sandy Hook and Newtown residents, said Ms Paulsen, especially children.

“It’s very frightening out there,” she said. “We try to provide 21 meals per week, per family. In October, we provided meals for 5,000 people. That’s over 100 families that came through,” she said.

FAITH Food Pantry is also grateful to area businesses that contribute on a regular basis, and to the Newtown fire companies, who will be collecting food donations outside of local supermarkets this weekend. “The firemen’s drives are just wonderful,” said Ms Paulsen, anticipating a number of additional Thanksgiving turkeys from that drive.

“Thank heavens this storm didn’t happen after we got all of the turkeys from the food drives. It was bad, losing all of that meat, but you know, everyone else lost food, too,” Ms Paulsen said.

The FAITH Food Pantry is in fairly good shape, so far as Thanksgiving Day provisions are concerned. However, there is still a great need for other, day-to-day, products.

“We need stews and soups, canned hash, juice, and complete pancake mix and syrup. Another treat we could use is coffee and tea,” she said. Sandwich bread and eggs are always welcome, as are hygiene products and dry goods.

Donations are accepted each Tuesday from 9 am to noon, and on Thursdays (except Thanksgiving Day) from 6 to 7:30, at the Washington Avenue church.

At the town food pantry, located in the Social Services Department of Town Hall South, Main Street, the situation is a bit more dire, said social services director Ann Piccini.

“We were not affected by the storm, thank goodness, being under the police station. We had generators going all of the time. But we are not seeing the normal donations for this time of year,” said Ms Piccini. She is concerned, with the upcoming holiday, that there will not be enough on hand to accommodate all of those in need.

“We have plenty of canned corn, peas, and string beans, but we need things like the cranberry sauce, stuffing ingredients, baking supplies, rice, and soups,” she said.

The town food pantry has two freezers, and can accommodate several 14- or 15-pound turkeys, so she is hopeful that the pantry will receive donations by the early part of next week.

“There are so many people in need,” said Ms Piccini.

Donations are accepted during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, at the Town Hall South site. For more information, call 203-270-4330.