A community’s passion for helping
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Mr. Rogers always advised kids, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
In the Quiet Corner, those kids wouldn’t have to look far. The community’s passion for helping was evident during the recent Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse Food Share.
Organizer Bruce Hay said more than 70 volunteers came to help Sept. 4. “This community is great – they show up and help,” he said.
“There are all kinds of people here to help out.”
Those in need were given boxes of food as they drove through the Food Share at the Farmers Market Pavilion. The line stretched down to the Rawson facility further down Kennedy Drive. 
Officials said the car count was 310, a record.
Hay and his volunteers are hard at work the first week of every month, in preparation, picking up donated boxes and pallets of food and drinks. Trucks arrive from the Connecticut Food Share and Midwest with pallets of food early the day of the Food Share.
Hay said he never knows what will be in the trucks. They are unloaded and then Hay quickly organizes box packing. Last week there were hundreds of boxes going out on one side of the pavilion and chips, drinks, frozen foods, breads, and more going out from the other side. One hairpin turn around the end of the pavilion netted each car quite a bit of food. 
When the trucks were unloaded this time, Hay said there were 17 different types of items to be organized. 
He set up a production line with volunteers filling the boxes, plus.
Fred Ruhlemann, president of the coffeehouse, said Hay is “dedicated and precise.”
Ruhlemann recounted a story about a first-time volunteer who helped load cars. Out of the 200 cars the volunteer helped, at least 80 thanked the volunteer. 
The Food Share started during Covid-19 and is still growing. 
Ruhlemann called the Food Share “good for the soul.”
When the Food Share was finished much of any remaining food seamlessly went to veterans’ organizations, the Putnam Elks, St. Joseph’s in N. Grosvenordale and Brooklyn Cares and more. 
Those who were in need of food went home with food and those who volunteered went home a bit tired but with a warmed heart.

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Volunteers
More than 70 volunteers helped distribute food at the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse Food Share last week. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page. More photos on page 4. Linda Lemmon photo.

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In a couple hours all these boxes of food were distributed. 

Making it possible: From left Putnam Elks' Jim Eccleston, organizer Bruce Hay, Scott Zahner from Midwest Food Bank and coffeehouse president Fred Ruhlemann. 

Nikki's Dog House always brings food for the volunteers.