Feeding those in need
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The upcoming Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse Food Share Dec. 4 will offer a wide variety of food, according to organizer Bruce Hay. 
He anticipates filling 330 banana boxes with cereal, mayonnaise, Boost, chicken broth, pasta sauce, juices, candy, coffee, popcorn, Pringles, Reese’s, Table Talk pies and witch hazel.
There will also be soda, tea, juice and more. When the Connecticut Foodshare truck arrives that morning, Hay will find out what other foods can be offered at different stations around the Farmers Market Pavilion off Kennedy Drive.
Hay takes a look at the food being unloaded and directs the food stuffs the different stations. 
He plans to open the drive-through line at 9:30 a.m.
Because SNAP funds have been restored, he believes this Food Share will be “going back to normal.” Last month, when the SNAP benefits were in limbo the demand was intense.
For the coffeehouse’s recent Thanksgiving Food Share he said they had 352 turkeys from Hometown Foundation and the coffeehouse had purchased stuffing to go with them. This year there weren’t any sides available. Some 250 cars came through so the balance of the turkeys-plus went to organizations such as the VFW and the Putnam Elks who were cooking free Thanksgiving Day dinners. In addition, turkeys also went to organizations such as the Danielson American Legion for delivery to its older members. Food also went to TEEG.
Looking ahead the first Thursday Jan. 1, a holiday. Connecticut Food Share cannot deliver on Jan. 1 or the following Thursday, Jan. 8, so the January Food Share will be on Jan. 15.
Record PBA Turkey Drive
In its 12 year the Putnam Business Association’s turkey drive hit a record, $11,000, according to Earl Rosebrooks, one of the chairs. Last year $8,900 was raised. He said in the final two days of fundraising they decided they wanted to break the record. “We went to possible contributors and said ‘We want to break a record,’ and they all helped. He attributed the record to the generosity of the community. “Everyone we asked said ‘yes,’” he said. In addition the golf tournament at Patty B’s Golf Shack raised almost $2,000 of that. 
The $11,000 goes to Putnam Supermarket as a kind of “tab” for Daily Bread. And it’s not just Thanksgiving. Karen Osbrey, head of Daily Bread, said “People have to eat the other 364 days of the year.” Calling it a blessing she said the tab allows Daily Bread to get what it needs. Often the tab lasts into the summer. It’s used for Thanksgiving, yes, but also for summer programs, snack closets, day camps. This year Daily Bread was able to help local schools, and more, with the unfunded SNAP challenge last month.
Osbrey values the help Putnam Supermarket gives Daily Bread. They might discount some items; they often tell her about specials coming up which allows Daily Bread to order those items at a special rate.
“This is completely local,” she said. It’s easy to run over and pick up items and to set up special help quickly. 
In addition to Rosebrooks, chairs include Andy Morrison, Jason Verreault and Pat O’Brien.

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