Food Drive Helps Fill Local Pantry Shelves

By John Voket

More than a week after local postal carriers and a legion of volunteer assistants brought in thousands of donated food items as part of the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive, donations were still rolling into the Newtown Social Services office. Ann Piccini, social services director said this year’s drive brought fewer overall donations than in year’s past, but fewer of the items donated had to be tossed out because they were expired or unfit for consumption.

“Last year,” agency spokesperson Joanne Klopfenstein said, “one-third of all the donated food had to be thrown away because of long past expiration or spoilage. We threw out less expired food this year, but did find a can marked 1992!”

Ms Piccini said that all food collected in Newtown during this important drive stays in Newtown, and due to economic conditions, the demand has grown. Typically, summer months present the most challenging because demand increases.

Some say this is because fewer children are in school and taking advantage of school-based meal programs.

Ms Klopfenstein said this year’s food drive attracted nearly 100 volunteers, “and each one was invaluable.” Volunteer drivers followed rural postal routes in the morning, and brought the food they collect to Social Services to be unloaded, sorted, and shelved.

Early risers included First Selectman Joe Borst and his wife Barbara, who tended to the regular routes they drive each year in Sandy Hook.

Throughout the day postal carriers also dropped off the food they picked up along their routes.

“The work was tiring and strenuous, and we were thankful to have many more high school students appear this year to help with the heavy lifting,” Ms Klopfenstein said. “Our volunteers ranged in age from high school to senior citizens, and we appreciate each and every one of them.”

Many of the same families and individuals return year after year, Ms Piccini explained, “and our sorting system improves with age.”

As always, Ms Piccini said, My Place and Carminuccio’s contributed pizzas to feed the hungry volunteers. And the work was made easier because Big Y allowed Social Services to borrow a dozen shopping carts to more easily move the food between vehicles and the sorting area.

Ms Klopfenstein said if residents missed the food drive, they are welcome to drop donation at the Social Services office in the basement level of Town Hall South — below the police station.

“We accept donations throughout the year to help feed the hungry in our town,” she said. “And please put a reminder on your calendar for 2010 to put out a bag of food early the day before Mother’s Day in 2010.”