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05/09/2020 12:00 AMWith COVID-19 sidelining the May 9 U.S. Letter Carriers' 28th annual "Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive," to an uncertain future date, citizens and community groups have come out to help pick up the slack and support Branford Food Pantry in an extraordinary time of need.
On the day of the would-be drive, Branford residents in some parts of town made an effort to gather donations in their neighborhoods with a mailbox food collection of their own.
On Saturday, May 9, Zip06/The Sound caught up with one of two teams out to gather food solicited from residents in the Pawson Park area of town. The neighborhood food drive was organized by Janet Jeddry and Karen Polhemus.
Polhemus said they were inspired to help out after reading an April 23 "Person of the Week" story in The Sound, in which BFP vice president Jaye Andrews talked about BFP's anticipated loss of some 8,000 pounds of food normally collected by Branford letter carriers during the one-day drive. In the article, Andrews had suggested that people who would have left food at their mailboxes could still donate it to BFP by dropping off the items on their own.
"We wanted to do something to help," said Polhemus, adding she had heard that some other Branford citizens had also rallied to help out in their neighborhoods on May 9.
In Pawson Park, a hand-delivered flyer notifying residents about the drive went out about a week before the collection. The drive started up at 10 a.m. and by 10:30 a.m. it was clear the call for donations was getting a great response, said volunteer Kim Cox, who masked up to help pick up bags left by mailboxes and at the end of driveways.
Cox and Polhemus manned a truck driven by volunteer Addy Glidden; while Jeddry and volunteer Kim Pasko, with driver Jim (last name not available) were also out collecting in the neighborhood May 9.
As noted by BFP on Facebook, in the days since word went out regarding the postponed May 9 letter carrier food drive, generous donations of food have been delivered by several groups to try to help make up the loss.
On April 25, BFP thanked Christine Pittman Simpson, Rick Pittman and the Fifth District Branford Democratic Town Committee for its generous cash donation and nearly 500 pounds of food; while also posting a thank you to the Branford Elks Club for driving in 788 pounds of food, an $800 grant and over $800 in cash to help feed Branford neighbors in need.
On May 6, Soundview Family YMCA organized a "Stuff a Bus" food drive, donating nearly 700 pounds of food as well as collecting monetary donations and gift cards for BFP.
If a volunteer collection didn't occur in your neighborhood on May 9, donations are welcome at BFP, 30 Harrison Ave., Tuesdays from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. and Fridays 10 - 11 a.m. Anyone who can't bring donations during those times, or those who may have a large donation, can arrange for a drop off by calling 203-481-3663. Monetary donations can be sent as checks payable to the Branford Food Pantry mailed to BFP, 30 Harrison Ave., Branford, CT 06405