It's been a season of ups and downs for FAITH Food Pantry.

This past spring, the pantry's volunteers learned that its home of 35-plus years - the meeting room and basement of St John's Episcopal Church in Sandy Hook - was about to become unavailable. The church vestry made the difficult decision to close the church, which in turn meant that FAITH, and other groups that used the building, would need to relocate.

Fortunately, a long-term temporary home has been created for the pantry. It now serves those who need help putting food on their table from a location within the Tier One complex at 31 Pecks Lane.

Unfortunately, the pantry's shelves are once again nearly empty.

Lee Paulsen, president of the pantry, said people have been able to find their way to the new location.

"They've definitely found us," she said October 5. "We were open last Thursday night, in fact, and two new families came in."

The public has always been invited to visit the pantry and drop off donations during its regular operating hours: Tuesday mornings from 10 am until noon, and Thursday evenings from 6 to 7:30 pm. Mrs Paulsen, and others, have also regularly made arrangements to meet people who cannot get to the pantry during those hours, opening the doors so that donations can be dropped off at other times.

The next opportunity to donate to FAITH Food Pantry will be during this weekend's 6th Annual Passport To Sandy Hook. The five-hour event will be taking place within Sandy Hook Center, with the public invited to explore the restaurants and businesses within the area of Church Hill Road at Washington Avenue, Riverside Road, and Glen Road. Additional local groups will also have tents and booths set up, with information about themselves and special offers for those who visit them.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company will be one such group. In addition to bringing the company's ladder truck to the parking lot at 100 Church Hill Road and having giveaways for those who stop by, firefighters and Ladies Auxiliary members will be collecting donations for FAITH Food Pantry on Saturday.

Sandy Hook resident Karin Halstead has long been a supporter of the pantry.

"I like that it helps people," she said. "It's an important resource."

Ms Halstead also volunteers at the pantry. She and other volunteers are seeing an increased need in the number of people who seek help, she said this week.

"They've taken in several new families" recently, she continued. "The need is definitely there. It seems like there is a greater need than ever."

The EMS Captain for Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Ms Halstead regularly spearheads collections conducted by the fire company. In addition to the October 8 collection, Sandy Hook members will be collecting during the Sandy Hook Halloween Walk on October 29. They will then join members of the town's other fire companies for the annual Fill-The-Fire Truck Food Drive on November 19. The annual pre-Thanksgiving food drive will take place outside two of Newtown's supermarkets that day.

Ms Halstead sees helping FAITH Food Pantry as one way Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue can give back.

"The community comes out to support us year-round," she said October 5. "This is one way for us, as firefighters, to support the community."

She is hoping the public will respond to the request for donations during this weekend's Passport To Sandy Hook. While food is one of the most popular items for people to donate, Ms Halstead is encouraging people to think broadly.

"I think most people think of 'nonperishable' as food, and we obviously can always use that," she said. "But shampoo, body wash, toilet tissue, health and beauty items ... those are all very helpful too."

Pet supplies are also appreciated at the pantry.

"Unfortunately families fall on hard times, including those with pets," Ms Halstead pointed out. "And pets are family members. We need to think of them too."

Mrs Paulsen agreed with the idea of nonperishables, saying things like soap and laundry soap - "But not the huge bottles," she said, "smaller ones are better" - would also be very helpful.

These are beyond the current list of most-wanted items: single-serve bags of snacks, large bottles of cranberry juice and apple juice, and complete pancake mix (just add water) and syrup, Mrs Paulsen said this week.

If all else fails, Mrs Paulsen said, the public can make a financial donation.

"With cash, we can get what we really need," she said.

A donation jar will be available on Saturday. For those who cannot get to Passport but would like to make a donation, checks made out to FAITH Food Pantry can be mailed to PO Box 53, Newtown CT 06470.

Passport Details

Presented by Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP), Passport is an annual event that invites people to discover, and in some cases rediscover, all that is happening in the business district of Sandy Hook. The sixth annual presentation will go on rain or shine.

The day offers children's activities, arts and crafts, live music, dance performances, games, food and refreshments, discounts and samples, and open houses to local businesses.

In addition, maps will be given out to attendees, who will then be challenged to visit all 35 locations highlighted this year. As they visit each location, guests will receive a stamp on their maps. Once a map is filled with the requisite number of stamps, it can be used as a raffle ticket.

New and returning businesses have contributed to this year's three prize packages with a combined value of more than $3,500. Winning maps will be drawn at 4:15 pm at the bandstand at 102 Church Hill Road. Participants need not be present to win, according to Event Coordinator Maribeth Hemingway.

The prize packages will be filled with gift certificates and items from local restaurants and businesses. Title Sponsor Newtown Savings Bank has donated the use of its corporate box at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport for the Ringling Bros Circus on Sunday, October 23, for the show starting at 5 pm.

Among the day's offerings, A Place For Hope and Healing, at 5A Glen Road, will have a number of things happening. The Thank You Tree will be available so that visitors can write notes of thanks to the responder of their choice, from firefighter, police officer, and teacher to clergy, healthcare worker, mental health specialist, or any member of the Armed Forces. There will also be photo cutouts for fun family photos, ring toss game and prizes, and two raffles for Celebrate Sandy Hook, which will treat each winner to local pizza and movie tickets for Edmond Town Hall.

Newtown author Harmony Verna will be signing copies of her book, Daughter of Australia, at Billy Ceglia Designs, 115 Church Hill Road.

Family Fun Kuts plans to offer $5 hair feathers, and will also be hosting a special consignment sale at the 111 Church Hill Road family salon.

Newtown United Methodist Church and Wesley Learning Center, at 92 Church Hill Road, will be hosting a bounce house, crafts for children, and a coloring station.

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