To the Editor:

The FAITH Food Pantry, a 100 percent volunteer organization, does not receive any government funding. Instead, it relies on community support in the form of cash and food donations. Throughout the year, many organizations have held food drives for us.

The gold standard for food drives is the Newtown Fireman’s Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive under the leadership of EMS Captain Karin Halstead, who initiated the first food drive in 2002. This food drive is a critical component in FAITH’s ability to provide food for Newtown residents in time of need. This year firemen from Sandy Hook, Hawleyville, Botsford, Dodgingtown, and Newtown Hook & Ladder fire companies filled their trucks with food at several Newtown locations on November 21. The volunteers at FAITH are indebted to you all.

This year a record 93 turkeys were distributed to needy families.

A special note of thanks also goes out to some special friends of FAITH: Steve (Butcher’s Best), Angelo (Sal e Pepe), Ingrid (The Pasta Shop), and Tim (“The Turkey Man”). There are many other special friends that I have not mentioned… you know who you are!

Newtown is a community of caring people. This is why it is a great place to live.

Sincerely,

Lee Paulsen

President, FAITH Food Pantry

119 Boggs Hill Road, Newtown December 4, 2020