Food Share: Filling the need no matter what
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — “There were a lot more people in need. I saw people I’d never seen before,” said Bruce Hay, organizer of the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse’s Food Share.
Challenged by Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) being in limbo, Hay said the coffeehouse’s Food Share saw a record number of people in need.
Four-hundred twenty-two cars went through which is a record by almost 100, he said. 
The cars in line for the drive-through food distribution ran the length of Kennedy Drive and ended up on Rt. 44, he said. 
The coffeehouse’s Food Share began in 2019 and geared up in earnest during COVID. 
His team of volunteers numbered 77 for this Food Share. Volunteers come from many places including veterans and the Putnam Elks Lodge.
“This doesn’t happen without teamwork,” Hay said.
The coffeehouse’s Food Share “can do” attitude is well known. Channel 3 WFSB’s Luke Hajdasz did a story as did NBC30. U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney also came.
Food for December had been picked up earlier in the week at the Midwest Food Bank New England. Some of the refrigerated food was given away Nov. 6. The trailer with the rest of the December allotment was parked across the street — a Plan B in case there wasn’t enough food for all Nov. 6. 
Hay, aka the man in the red hat, constantly reassesses how things are going and makes adjustments. Not surprisingly he said he didn’t need to go to Plan B.
The truck from Connecticut Food Share was a little late. Hay never knows what that truck is bringing until they start unloading. At that point he organizes the volunteers. They walk through, cafeteria style, and their banana boxes are loaded with food. Then the boxes are stacked for distribution.
Other food stuffs, breads, produce, drinks and more are loaded onto tables that allow the patrons to drive in a hairpin manner around the pavilion to have some of everything loaded into their cars.
The SNAP cards may have been loaded after that for November but Hay has his mind turning on “what if — what about next month?” Rest assured: “They will all get food.”
In the meantime, the coffeehouse is planning its traditional Thanksgiving distribution.
It will be held around noon Nov. 22 at the Farmers Market Pavilion off Kennedy Drive. He said no line is allowed before 11:30. He said “I know I’ll have the turkeys,” adding that the coffeehouse has already purchased 300 boxes of stuffing. He works with the Hometown Foundation for Thanksgiving and is contact with them to fill out the rest of the Thanksgiving dinner boxes.

caption, page 1:

In a Nutshell
Bruce Hay (red hat) waits to see what foods come off the truck. Then he directs his team of volunteers on distribution. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photos.

page 4:

From left: Bruce Hay, WFSB's Luke Hajdasz, Coffeehouse president Fred Ruhlemann and Mayor Barney Seney.

Charles Milewski and his counter