FAITH Food Pantry received a donation last week that was dropped off by one resident, who represented the goodwill of many residents.

Betty Presnell visited the Church Hill Road pantry on Tuesday morning, making her latest donation after collecting and redeeming returnable bottles and cans. She has been running a one-women bottle and can drive since last spring, turning those returns into donations for the food pantry, Nunnawauk Meadows, and The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The April 27 visit to FAITH Food Pantry put the collective donations to that nonprofit at “just a smidgen over $2,000,” Presnell said.

The effort began last spring after Presnell, the current president of Nunnawauk Meadows Residents Association, saw a need to raise funds for that organization after its annual fundraiser was canceled.

Presnell put out a call for donations of returnable bottles and cans through social media, and the response has been steady since then. Presnell will continue donating funds to FAITH Food Pantry, she said this week. She is also setting aside some of the funds collected through the bottle and can drive for the American Red Cross.

Donations are accepted at her home, 1D Nunnawauk Meadows, 3 Nunnawauk Road. Returnable bottles and cans should be clean and rinsed, and left near her door.

FAITH Request List

On Tuesday, FAITH Food Pantry president Lee Paulsen and vice president Jill LeBlanc said the top current requests for donations include jelly, juice (apple and cranberry), and brownie mix.

Regular requests include beef stew, canned chili, and sloppy joe mix; baked beans and canned tomatoes; pasta and pasta sauce; macaroni and cheese; canned fruit; rice and packaged rice and pasta dishes; peanut butter and jelly; cookies and crackers; cereal; cookie mix and cake mix; pet food; toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner; toilet paper, laundry soap, hand soap; liquid dish soap; and coffee.

COVID guidelines currently require appointments, according to the organization’s website; call 203-837-0816 or 203-426-5604 to make one.

Visitors to the pantry only need to show proof of residence. Additional information is available at newtownfoodpantry.org or by calling either of the above phone numbers.

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Associate Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.