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Collecting

Putnam’s Boy Scout Troop 21 and Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus, assisted by a donation of more than two dozen bags of non-perishable food from town employees, joined forces over two weeks to collect money and food for the area’s needy. The “Scouting for Food” drive was capped off by a Saturday, March 18 community collection event at the K of C hall in Putnam. Scoutmaster Peter A. Lombardo, left, and Scouts Nathan Olson, in truck, foreground,  and Richard L. LaBonte Jr. show off the town employees’ donations with Putnam Mayor Tony Falzarano, right. Overall, the drive collected just over $2,300 and 2,355 pounds of food. Photo by John D. Ryan

 

 

 

 

PUTNAM — Local people in need got a helping hand recently, thanks to a collection effort by a local Boy Scout troop and a Knights of Columbus council, assisted by Putnam town employees. Putnam’s Boy Scout Troop 21 and Cargill Council 64 joined forces with the community for their ninth annual food drive, collecting just over $2,300 and 2,355 pounds – more than a ton – of non-perishable food.

The drive began on the weekend of March 4 and 5, when Scouts and Knights passed out hundreds of distinctive bright yellow plastic “Scouting for Food” grocery bags at the Masses being celebrated at St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam and Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret. “Scouting for Food” is a nationwide annual effort by Boy Scout troops, Cub Scout packs and Explorer posts.

 Meanwhile, the effort took hold at the Putnam Town Hall where more than two dozen “Scouting for Food” bags were collected from town employees. Mayor Tony Falzarano’s executive assistant, Denise Roireau, organized a collection effort after the Knights brought the mayor a yellow bag to fill with groceries. This was the second year Falzarano was involved, helping to drum up support. On St. Patrick’s Day the mayor was assisted by several town employees to load donated food into his Chevy Equinox in the parking lot.

“I’m so proud of the town employees, particularly Denise Roireau, for making this happen and helping the people in our community,” Falzarano said. “There are families now who will have food because of the generosity of our Putnam town employees.”

The next day, on Saturday morning, March 18, Falzarano drove his SUV to the Knights of Columbus hall on Providence Street, where the two-week drive was capped off with a community collection of food and money. 

Just after noon, the Scouts and Knights trucked the food over to the local non-profit, non-denominational Daily Bread Food Pantry, operated by Interfaith Human Services of Putnam at the Living Faith United Methodist Church and helped to bring it inside.

Daily Bread Volunteer Project Coordinator Ann Kathi Peterson, said Daily Bread helps an average of 500 to 600 people every month, from Putnam, Pomfret, Woodstock and Eastford, based solely on need. Of that, about 150 to 200 are children, with another 100 senior citizens, while most of the other recipients are aged 18 to 60. She said that overall, the local economy hasn’t gotten any better in the last five to seven years.

The money was given to Project Northeast, another local non-profit, non-denominational, social service agency for the needy, operated from two small basement rooms at St. Mary’s Church. Project Northeast helps an average of 150 of the region’s families every month, like Daily Bread, based solely on need. Serving the area from Plainfield and Sterling north to the Massachusetts border, recipients can get temporary help with food, along with money for utilities and other basic necessities. Although it’s a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Norwich, it’s supported almost entirely by donations.

A member of the Knights of Columbus himself, Project Northeast Director Rev. Richard L. Archambault said there are people throughout northeastern Connecticut who need help every day.

“This money we’re taking in from this drive will go right back out again, for the poor people in our area,” Archambault said. “They’re our neighbors and we’re grateful that the donations come in so we can help them.”