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Donation
Karen Osbrey, IHSP Board president, right, presents a donation check to TEEG’s Anne Miller, executive director. Courtesy photo.

N. GROSVENORDALE —  After launching a community campaign in late 2017, TEEG is edging even closer to funding a truck to assist with food pickups and deliveries for local communities in northeastern Connecticut. After years of service TEEG’s previous truck, which was equipped with a freezer for safe food transportation, was retired. TEEG launched their community campaign with the goal of raising $15,000 to purchase a new truck. In an attempt to help TEEG purchase the vehicle, bankHometown announced they would match the first $5,000 raised. In the spirit of collaboration, the campaign is now closer than ever to reaching the $5,000 matching  goal thanks in large part to a recent donation by Interfaith Human Service of Putnam (IHSP). The local organization, which operates its own food pantry in Putnam, committed $2,000 as part of the community fund-raising program.
TEEG Executive Director Anne Miller said that this donation is symbolic of the partnerships local organizations  have formed in northeastern Connecticut and that the truck will be an important tool for not just TEEG, but other groups like IHSP. “We are very grateful to ISHP and to bankHometown for their support,” Miller said. “This new truck will not only benefit TEEG, it will allow us to distribute surplus food and support IHSP when they are in need as well. Hungry people are hungry no matter what town they live in.”
To date, the community campaign has received support from Longmeadow Automotive in Pomfret, which donated $1,000 to TEEG through their metal recycling program and is working with the organization to locate a truck for purchase. Other financial contributions have also come in through private donations totaling more than $1,300.
In order to reach the goal of the community campaign TEEG is still seeking $700 in donations toward the purchase of the truck. The organization’s plan is to exceed the $15,000 goal in order to help pay for maintenance and personalization of the truck including adding a graphic to the vehicle to honor donors for their contributions.
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