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11/03/2021 09:27 AMIn the spirit of being thankful this season, Families Helping Families (FHF) asks, why not help local families in need? FHF is holding a food drive through Wednesday, Nov. 17 for families that shop at the Clinton Food Pantry.
To meet a growing food need at the pantry, FHF is asking that people donate gift cards of $25 from local supermarkets by Nov. 17. The gift cards can be dropped off at two turkeys located outside The Clinton Police Department and in the lobby of The Henry Carter Hull Library.
Besides the turkeys, donations can be made on the FHF website as well as by sending a check to FHF at FHF P.O. Box 166 Clinton, CT. 06413. All monetary donations will be used to purchase gift cards.
According to a press release from FHF, the motivation for the event is that “FHF wants each family to be able to experience the special feelings and emotions that Thanksgiving brings to all of us. With a gift card each family can decide the foods that they would like to see on their Thanksgiving table.”
“This is the fifth year FHF for our Full Thanksgiving Table Effort,” FHF President Miner Vincent told the Harbor News. “Because of the number of families who have come to rely on the Clinton Food Pantry, our goal is to collect 300 $25 gift cards. The hope is that through this effort every family will have all the traditional holiday foods available to them when they celebrate Thanksgiving Day.”
The cards will be given out the week before Thanksgiving so families have time to shop. FHF will also be proving fresh produce in addition to the gift cards. Vincent said that the fresh produce will be able to complement the traditional Thanksgiving food families have come to expect.
“We will be supplying traditional Thanksgiving foods such as squash, potatoes, and greens for salads, although with an assortment of fruits including apples, oranges, and grapes,” Vincent said.
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit there has been a well-documented rise in families who need food assistance, including at the Clinton Food Pantry. To help these families also celebrate a great Thanksgiving, Vincent said that five years ago the organization decided to help out.
“FHF came up with this idea out of concern that many families did not have the resources to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner and that Thanksgiving was just another day rather than a special day when families gathered together around a holiday table,” said Vincent.