Global clients of Newtown-based Tier One have depended on the company to fill their orders for highly precision machined parts for years. But now, thanks to the company's philanthropic spirit, Newtown residents who are challenged to make ends meet or who cannot afford enough food to sustain their families can visit FAITH Food Pantry at its new home in a converted auxiliary garage at the 31 Pecks Lane plant.The Newtown Bee. "It would have turned into a situation where the money we used to [bulk] buy food would be spent on rent."

The local volunteer-driven service agency, one of two local food pantries, was previously located in the basement of St John's Episcopal Church in Sandy Hook Center. But when the announcement came that the church was going to close, and the building would likely be sold, FAITH was pressed to find a new and relatively accessible home fast.

And with low or no rent.

Offering Food Assistance, Immediate Temporary Help (the acronym for the non-ecumenical offering), FAITH will eventually develop a permanent location on the grounds of St Rose of Lima Church. But in the interim, its volunteers and leader Lee Paulsen were not having much luck finding a temporary home.

"The couple of places that we were able to consider each wanted to charge rent that we couldn't afford or they wanted a long-term lease situation," Ms Paulsen recently told

That's when Tier One's Mike Iassogna and Joe Young tossed FAITH a lifeline.

"When we heard that the FAITH Food Pantry was closing at St John's Church, we wanted to help them transition the program by offering to provide a temporary space until their permanent home is available at St Rose," Mr Iassogna said. "It was actually one of our employees that made the case for them and we were happy to help."

"A friend of mine - Paul O'Leary - was the interim CEO of the Connecticut Food Bank and during a meeting with him one day I learned that nearly a half-a-million people are food insecure in Connecticut, and 140,000 of them are children," Mr Young said. "These were eye-opening numbers for all of us at Tier One and a big part of the reason we [wanted] to help in making a difference."

Mr Young said Tier One employees have been involved in serving meals at St Vincent DePaul shelter, along with running food drives and other charitable events around the holidays.

"The FAITH Food Pantry just seemed like a cause that fit with Tier One's values," he added. "I also have to say that once I met Lee Paulsen I knew for sure it was a fit - a great person and a great cause."

Not knowing what to expect on "moving day," August 26, Ms Paulsen was thrilled to see numerous residents and volunteers show up at St John's with "a lot of big empty trucks and SUVs," along with some muscle, courtesy of Newtown Parks & Recreation staffers.

"I thought it was going to take all day, and we were done in just a few hours," Ms Paulsen said. So on opening day at the new location, Tuesday, August 30, a core group of volunteers converged on the Pecks Lane facility and had everything ready as the day's first few clients showed up at the door.

"You need to be sure the community knows that without Mike and Joe and the folks at Tier One, we would have been out of business," Ms Paulsen said.

She also reminds the community that because of an ability to bulk buy staple food and household items, FAITH can maximize financial donations that can double or triple their buying power. So the 50 cents that someone might spend to buy a can of chili to donate directly, could buy two, three, or more cans when purchased in bulk by FAITH organizers.

Anyone wishing to make a financial donation may do so by sending a check or money order to FAITH Food Pantry, PO Box 53, Newtown CT 06470. The operation also has a new cellphone number for anyone to call regarding food drive pickups, bulk donations, or if they have questions about qualifying for services or hours of operation.

That new phone number is 203-837-0816. Messages can also be left on voicemail at that number, or at 203-426-5604.

Effective immediately, FAITH is open at Tier One on Tuesdays, 10 am to noon; and Thursdays, 6 to 7:30 pm.

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