Families Helping Families (FHF) holds its annual Fall Food Drive on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Clinton Stop & Shop.

FHF will be accepting nonperishable food items, says FHF President Miner Vincent, with all donated food going to the Clinton Food Pantry. They will also be handing out lists of much-needed items for the Clinton Food Pantry.

“Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted,” says Vincent, “and will be used to help fund our Fresh Produce Program and Cans for Clinton Program.”

FHF’s Fresh Produce Program buys and delivers fresh produce to the Clinton Food Pantry two or three times a month to help supplement items families receive from the pantry. Cans for Clinton fills in other needed items, such as toothpaste, shampoo, and laundry detergent.

“This will be the first townwide food drive in nearly four months,” says Vincent. “Over the past two years, there has been a 20 percent increase in the number of families who have come to rely on the Clinton Food Pantry. On a weekly basis, over 2,000 pounds of food and other essentials are given out to Clinton families.”

Vincent says many of the food pantry’s shelves this time of year are either half-full or almost empty.

FHF’s Fall Food Drive takes place Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Super Stop & Shop, 215 East Main Street, Clinton.

Next up for FHF is its 10th annual Apple Pie Festival on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Andrews Memorial Town Hall, 56 East Main Street, Clinton. The event is free, but donations are requested to help benefit Families Helping Families. Register apple pies in advance by emailing familieshelpingfamiliesclinton@gmail.com. Prizes are awarded for both adult and youth divisions. For more information, call 860-669-5592.