State Police Slate Food Drive For The Needy

State police will be conducting their 13th annual food drive for the needy next weekend at four locations in the state, including Shaw’s Supermarket at the Southbury Green shopping center at 775 Main Street South in Southbury.

The food drive will be held in front of the supermarket from 4 to 7 pm on Friday, August 15; from 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday, August 16; and from 9 am to 3 pm on Sunday, August 17.

On August 17, state police will stage public safety demonstrations at the four food collection points. Other collection points are at Shaw’s Supermarkets in Westport, Wallingford, and Manchester.

More than 300,000 state residents go hungry daily, of which one-third are children, according to state police. By the end of summer, the nonperishable foods kept at food pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters are in low supply.

Nonperishable foods that are suitable for donation at the food drive include boxed, canned and packaged foods, including dry or powdered milk, packaged juices, cans of tuna fish, peanut butter, crackers, pasta, chunky-style soups, rice, cereal, cooking oil, baby foods, baby formula, and personal hygiene products.

The state police’s goal in holding the food drive in August is to resupply the depleted stocks of the various facilities that store food for distribution to the needy.