In a recent letter to the residents of Old Lyme, Rev. Ryan Young, board chair of The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP), posed the question, “Are there really hungry people on the shoreline? How about in Old Lyme?”
Noting that people often do not realize the number of residents in need, Young wrote, “For most of us, it’s hard to imagine not knowing where the next meal will come from; but for many of our neighbors, even in a beautiful town like Old Lyme, it is a reality they face every day. Last year SSKP registered 317 Old Lyme residents at one of our food pantries. Over half needed to come every week for food.”
This year marks the 25th anniversary of SSKP. By providing groceries through five separate weekly pantry distributions and offering daily hot meals at eight local meal sites, they help any resident of Old Lyme in need of food assistance. The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries also serves the towns of Essex, East Lyme, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Chester, Clinton, Madison, Killingworth, Westbrook, and Deep River.
Young continued, “Most people are hard-working adults whose jobs simply do not pay enough. Others are people struggling with an illness that keeps them from being able to work. Many are families with young children, or seniors who simply cannot make ends meet.”
The Old Lyme Pantry is hosted at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. It distributed over 253,000 pounds of food last year. Volunteers at the Saturday morning distribution gave out enough groceries for over 273,500 meals to 1,805 guests.
Old Lyme residents are able to choose from a wide variety of fresh vegetables and fruits, canned and boxed foods, as well as meat, eggs and dairy. Also every Saturday morning at the First Congregational Church, rotating teams of volunteers prepare a hot nutritious breakfast, and last year, served 4,911 meals.
Young concluded his letter with an appeal for support. “To help reach our Annual Appeal goal the H.J. Promise Foundation has pledged to match the first $30,000. When you receive my letter, please consider helping your Old Lyme neighbors in need.”
The SSKP Annual Appeal is held from October through Dec. 31 Donations by check may be mailed to P.O. Box 804, Essex, CT 06426. To donate online or for a full listing of times and locations of the pantries and meal sites, visit www.shorelinesoupkitchens.org or call (860) 388-1988.