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10/23/2016 09:27 AMThirty-seven percent of Branford's working families are living just above the poverty line. That's where programs like Branford Food Pantry (BFP), providing free supplemental groceries to Branford families in need, come to the rescue. Right now, BFP need donations of frozen turkeys for holiday meal baskets and donations of money to help families in need year 'round.
BFP vice-president Jay Webb said United Way's 2016 ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report update underlines the importance of a getting a great response to the two current BFP appeals.
All-volunteer non-profit BFP is banking on a big response to its annual community monetary appeal, which recently got underway with mail requests sent to community members, and also needs 500 donated frozen turkeys in time to supply complete Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday meal baskets to Branford families in need.
"In Branford, 37 percent of families have earnings below basic survival budget," said Webb, adding one of the recommendations of the United Way report, updated every two years, is, "...to give to organizations that smooth out the bumps for the poor, or volunteer for programs in the town that try to assist people."
BFP matches both points perfectly, especially at this time of year. Located in the lower level of the Patricia C. Andriole Volunteers Services Building at 33 Harrison Ave., BFP helped over 168 different Branford families (about 500 people) monthly in 2015, assisting over 250 different families for the year.
"We're getting two or three new families each week," said BFP President Wendy Cowles. "As soon as some have left, others are coming in. And the others who have left might still come back, because a lot of them have jobs that are seasonal. So it's not stable for them."
Money contributed to BFP will help continue to defray costs needed to supplement donations of food. Last year, BFP supplied an average of 16,050 pounds of food per month and 193,000 pounds of food for the year.
This is the time of year when things really ramp up at BFP, said Webb.
"We'll be giving out about 17,500 pounds of food, including the turkeys," said Webb. "It's an amazing amount of poundage that gets delivered."
In order to fill at least 250 baskets for Thanksgiving and another 250 baskets for Christmas, frozen turkeys (between 14– 16) pounds are being gratefully accepted now at BFP, which has ample storage space within its distribution site.
"People can start contributing any time. We have walk-in freezer, and it will be filled right to the top," said Webb. "This is the critical time to bring in their turkeys, because we can freeze them and be sure we'll have enough to supply for the two holidays."
Donations of frozen turkeys and non-perishable holiday basket items (gravy, stuffing, canned vegetables, etc.) can be dropped off at 30 Harrison Ave. on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 8 and 11 a.m. at the lower level, right side of the building.
"If some people would prefer, they can make a cash donation, and then we'll do the shopping," added Webb.
In addition, beginning November 1, any Branford family wishing for a Holiday Meal Basket, delivered in time to prepare their family dinner, can call BFP's new Holiday Hotline at 203-315-8251. Families need to call before Nov. 18 to receive a Thanksgiving basket (delivered Nov. 22) and before Dec. 17 for Christmas baskets (delivered Dec. 22) and a family member must be home to accept delivery.
Bringing the baskets to the homes is always a special moment for the many volunteers fanning out into the community on delivery day. Each year, a large group of Branford High School students arrive at BFP to assist BFP regular volunteers with Thanksgiving deliveries.
"One year, I was delivering with the kids, and a man came to answer the door," said Webb. "He took a look at what they were carrying and his face lit up. He said, 'There really will be a Thanksgiving this year.' They really worry we're not going to deliver, and really rely on this. A lot of these people barely make it from week to week; and to do anything special for a holiday probably isn't going to happen without help."
Make checks out to the Branford Food Pantry and mail them to 30 Harrison Ave., Branford, CT 06405. To learn more about the Branford Food Pantry, check
www.branfordfoodpantry.org. Special arrangements for the pick-up of a large amount of turkeys can be made by calling (203) 215-3533.