A steadily growing number of Branford families seeking supplemental grocery assistance, coupled with news of rising costs for Thanksgiving dinner and supply shortages, has Branford Food Pantry (BFP) doubling down on its efforts to drive in donations to fill Holiday Baskets, while also working to welcome requests for baskets from any Branford resident in need.

BFP has plans to give away at least 250 complete baskets of traditional holiday meal ingredients to Branford folks in need at Thanksgiving, and again at Christmas -- although that number is likely to climb this year, said Jaye Andrews, vice president of the BFP board.

Established in 1978 and located in the lower level of the Patricia C. Andriole Volunteer Services Center at 30 Harrison Ave., non-profit, all-volunteer BFP provides supplemental food support to residents in need, who come by to get their groceries at the site.

BFP's clients are Branford individuals, seniors, and families. Andrews said BFP has been experiencing a pretty steady influx of new clients over the last month.

"We add new people every single day," said Andrews, noting she also fielded three new client requests in one day last week.

The recent uptick of those seeking assistance is likely due to experiencing the one-two punch of the end of the federal stimulus package and increasing costs impacting the price of basic needs.

"Suddenly, people that could afford the groceries we provide are finding that everything else is expensive," Andrews said. "Suddenly, gas is more expensive; and they've still got to get to work -- a lot of our clients drive cars. They all heat their houses or trailers or apartments. So all of this is impacting them. As all their other basic needs costs go up, food is often one of the first things they cut, or certainly cut back on."

Despite the complications of rising costs and uncertain supply, BFP stands ready meet the needs of every Branford resident in need who requests a holiday basket, said Andrews.

"We want it to happen," said Andrews. "It's just a matter of sourcing everything; because there are shortages right now."

BFP encourages Branford residents facing financial difficulty to request a Thanksgiving meal holiday basket by contacting BFP no later than Thursday, Nov. 18. Call BFP's Holiday Hotline at (203) 315-8251 or email office@branfordfoodpantry.org and provide full name, address, and phone number (if homebound, indicate home delivery required).  Regular pantry clients may sign up during their BFP visit beginning Nov. 1.

Food Collection Concerns

When it comes to filling as many baskets as requested, BFP will find a way to get the job done, but, "...we're concerned," said Andrews.

In addition to those possibly being impacted by the ending of the federal stimulus package, "... prices are going up – there's no two ways about it – for absolutely everything," she said. "They are suggesting this will be the most expensive Thanksgiving dinner, ever, put on a table. There are spotty shortages; and they say things like turkeys will be in short supply. I hope that's not true."

As providing a small, frozen turkey (12 – 16 pounds) is central to filling each basket, frozen turkeys top the list of donated items sought to assist BFP. While turkeys may be harder to find and more costly this year; some other traditional holiday meal ingredients are already proving difficult for BFP to gather. As a result, BFP is also especially seeking donations of cans of cranberry, cream of mushroom soup and cans of pumpkin pie filling, said Andrews.

"We have been buying whatever we can, or whenever we can get them for free from the [CT] Food Bank; so we've been stockpiling," said Andrews.

While BFP secures all of the fresh produce needed for each basket, the pantry is also seeking donations of non-perishable food items to round out the holiday baskets, including jars of turkey gravy, boxes of stuffing mix, canned green beans, canned corn, cans of coffee and Jiffy brand pie crust mix.

BFP is especially grateful for the many local church food drives which bring in a large number of the items needed to fill holiday baskets each year, said Andrews.

"Many of the churches help us out a great deal; and we rely on it now," said Andrews.

Tax-deductible donations are also gratefully accepted. Contribute online at www.branfordfoodpantry.org or send checks made out to Branford Food Pantry to P.O. Box 1068, Branford, CT 06405. The funds will assist BFP in purchasing perishable holiday basket items such as butter, as well as any supplemental basket inventory needed.

Individuals, groups and organizations are welcome to deliver donations of Holiday Basket items directly to Branford Food Pantry, 30 Harrison Ave., on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 8:30 – 11 a.m. and during additional Tuesday hours of 4 – 6 p.m. To arrange pick up of large food donations, call (203) 481-3663 or email office@branfordfoodpantry.org Holiday basket food donations are accepted through Dec. 20, 2021.