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 it serves. 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 the area’s communities will have a place at the table.
The Soup Kitchens’s five pantries combine to distribute approximately 17,000 pounds of food every week. Only 40 percent of this food comes from the Connecticut 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.
The most-needed items are:
Canned meats (tuna, chicken, salmon)
Canned fruits and vegetables
Peanut butter
Canned and boxed meals
Canned or dried beans
Pasta and rice
Cereal
Items not accepted:
Rusty or unlabeled cans
Perishable items
Homemade items
Non-commercial packaged or canned items
Alcoholic beverages and mixes
Open or used items
For more information contact 860-388-1988 or cbellerjeau@shorelinesoupkitchens.org or visit www.shorelinesoupkitchens.org.
The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP) 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 more than 900 dedicated volunteers, SSKP served almost 950,000 meals worth of food to shoreline neighbors in need.
