Help One Boy Scout

Support The Food Bank

Ajit Singh, 15, is asking residents for their help and support.

He seeks pledges and donations for the Newtown Food Bank as part of his Eagle Scout project. Recently he was “inspired to take up the cause,” he said, after learning that this year the food bank was running out of supplies.

Residents can help by bringing donations to drop-off boxes that have been set up at TR Paul, Inc., at 14 Commerce Road, and Newtown Florist at 111 South Main Street.

Supplies can also be dropped off at Social Services offices at Town Hall South (3 Main Street) through November. He targets the nonholiday months when people are less inclined to remember the more than 400 people in town relying on the food bank to supplement their needs.

Also, thanks to Boy Scout Troop 70 of Newtown, Ajit has been able to post a PDF at Troop70Newtown.org/form_ajit.pdf which offers additional information and helpful reminders to guide people interested in making donations. Ajit is encouraging supporters to print it and make a pledge to donate, as the form asks.

He has set goals of Saturdays, September 12 and October 10, as target dates for food drives. On those days he will be at the Stop & Shop supermarket on South Main Street between 9 am and 2 pm.

“The objective is to help the community,” said Ahit, who has opted to support the food bank to raise awareness and because, “there are so many families and the number has increased.” In his effort to collect food and nonperishable items he made a presentation recently to Newtown Rotary Club.

Ajit’s mother Anu Singh is proud of her son.

“He has never done a project like this. He hopes to raise 500 pounds of food,” she said. He also hopes to get back at least 200 pledge forms committing to at least two pounds.

Social Services Director Ann Piccini offered some ideas. She does not need any pasta, pumpkin, or garbanzo beans, but welcomes “everything else,” she said. Jelly, tuna, stew, cereals, canned fruits and vegetables, snacks, granola …

Ms Paccinci has already thanked Ajit for his help. After speaking with him in the past, she noted, “He followed through.”

Contact Ajit Singh at 364-1043, and Newtown Social Services at 270-4330.