For the fourth year, local Fire Departments are hosting an area-wide food drive to collect non-perishable food for area residents in need.
The fire stations will be open to receive donations of non-perishable food on Saturday, April 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The donations will go to five local food pantries run by The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP).
SSKP hopes to include as many fire departments as possible in the 11 shoreline towns they serve. So far, the Old Saybrook, Chester, Killingworth, Clinton, Niantic and Westbrook fire departments have committed to the event. All fire departments are welcome to participate.
At a time of year when food donations are low, this food will help to restock the pantries and ensure that everyone in our communities will have a place at the table.
The Soup Kitchens’ five pantries combine to distribute approximately 17,000 pounds of food every week. Only 40 percent of this food comes from the CT Food Bank; the remainder must be either purchased or donated, so every item is appreciated. Last year’s drive raised 6,500 pounds of food. Join the effort by bring your donation to a participating firehouse on April 11.
The most needed items are:
Canned Meats (tuna, chicken, salmon)
Canned Fruits & Vegetables
Peanut Butter
Canned & Boxed Meals
Canned or Dried Beans
Pasta & Rice
Cereal
Items that cannot be accepted:
Rusty or Unlabeled Cans
Perishable Items
Homemade Items
Noncommercial Packaged or Canned Items
Alcoholic Beverages & Mixes
Open or Used Items
For more information call (860) 388-1988 or [email protected] or visit www.shorelinesoupkitchens.org.
The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries provides food and fellowship to people in need and educates the community about hunger and poverty, serving the Connecticut shoreline towns of Essex, Chester, Clinton, Madison, Old Saybrook, East Lyme, Lyme, Old Lyme, Killingworth, Westbrook and Deep River. Founded 26 years ago, in 1989, at the Baptist Church in Essex, the agency continues in its mission to feed the hungry in body and spirit. Last year with a small staff and over 900 dedicated volunteers, SSKP served almost 950,000 meals worth of food to shoreline neighbors in need.