For the fifth year running, local attorney State Representative Joe Zullo (R-99) extended what has now become an annual challenge to Joseph Melillo Middle School students—with a five-year milestone twist. On his personal Facebook page, Zullo announced that if Joseph Melillo Middle School students collect 2,000 canned goods by Thursday, Dec. 23, the day students and staff break for the holidays, he will donate $2,000 to the school’s parent-teacher committee (PTC).

Zullo explained, “This year marks the fifth year of the challenge, which has helped stock our local food pantry’s shelves with thousands of items each holiday season and helped raise awareness of the issue of food insecurity in our community and across our state.”

Zullo added, “Food insecurity is a widespread problem in our town and across our country. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw even greater need as families struggled to keep food on the table with the economy shut down. Now, with rising inflation and supply chains strained, families are continuing to struggle to make ends meet. Now, more than ever, our local pantry needs donations so that it can continue to meet the ever-growing needs of those in our community who find themselves in the precarious position of being food insecure.”

In each of the initiative’s first four years, students were challenged to collect 1,000 canned goods to benefit the town’s food pantry. However, with the challenge reaching its milestone fifth year, Zullo says it was the right year to temporarily expand the challenge.

“To commemorate the fifth year of this exciting initiative and in recognition of your school’s hard work and generosity over the past four challenges, I am doubling the incentive this year and pledging $1 per canned good, up to $2,000,” said Zullo.

Zullo added, “As with last year, in addition to donating to the school’s PTC, the classroom that collects the most canned goods will receive a pizza and ice cream party in the spring, but only if the entire school meets and exceeds the 2,000-can threshold.”

Since its inception, the initiative has brought the middle school’s students, teachers, and parents together to organize collection drives and keep track of the canned goods collected. Monies donated in past years have helped the PTC fund supplemental educational programs for students. Over the years, other town officials, including Town Council Chairman Joe Deko, have joined Zullo in rolling out the challenge. Deko is back on board this year, and has agreed to once again donate double his December Town Council stipend to the expanded initiative on top of Zullo’s $2,000 pledge.”

Deko added, “In recent years, representatives of our local food pantry have appeared before our Town Council to keep us apprised of their activities and operations. Our pantry, which is run entirely by volunteers, serves over 100,000 meals each year, which speaks to both the incredible need and incredible generosity we have in our community that allows us to meet that need. I’m proud to be a part of this initiative, which I know raises awareness of the issue of food insecurity and connects our pantry with critical donations, particularly during the holiday season.”

Zullo concluded, “I’m so proud, once again, to be teaming up with Councilman Deko to roll out this challenge. I know we’re raising the bar, but I know our students will rise to the occasion. I am also hopeful, especially as we enter the holiday season, that others will consider supporting our local food pantry. I encourage anyone interested in making a donation or getting involved to visit the pantry’s Facebook page @EastHavenFoodPantry.”