Food collected by fire departments tops 8,700 pounds

August 9, 2010 Areawide, Local News Comments Off

Summer is especially important for keeping local food pantries stocked since children who are part of the breakfast and/or lunch programs at school are not receiving that food during the summer.

The 2010 “Day of Caring & Compassion” observed by 12 Connecticut fire stations brought in more than 8,700 pounds of food to help fill Connecticut’s food banks.

This amount of food represents more than 90,000 meals.

The Willimantic Fire Department was one of the stations that took part in the effort, and collected 196 pounds of food for those in need on July 31. The North Windham Fire Department also contributed 400 pounds of much needed food.

“Foodshare is grateful for the generosity of the people of Connecticut and the local fire stations who contributed to making the Connecticut Day of Caring & Compassion a success,” Foodshare Vice President and Chief Development Officer Alicia Flynn said.

“Our partner agencies so appreciate the public’s support, especially during the difficult summer months when need is at an all-time high. We are thankful to the community,” Flynn said.

According to a statement issued by Gov. M. Jodi Rell on Aug. 8, the number of Connecticut residents asking for food assistance has increased by more than 30 percent from last year.

Chief Executive Officer of Connecticut Food Bank Nancy L. Carrington thanked Gov. Rell for raising public awareness at a critical time. “The increased demand has put a great strain on our network of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, and we cannot feed people in need without the help of the public,” she said.

Some of the figures from the Day of Caring include:

Danbury: 200 pounds

Enfield: 300 pounds

Fairfield: 120 pounds

Middletown: 1,500 pounds

North Windham: 400 pounds

Norwich: 609 pounds

Old Saybrook: 1,850 pounds

Waterbury: 475 pounds

West Hartford: 2,000 pounds

West Haven: 225 pounds

Westport: 900 pounds