Food Share growth – in numbers, reputation
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
The Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse’s monthly Food Share is growing — both in numbers of people helped but also its stellar reputation.
For a while Bruce Hay, vice president of the coffeehouse and organizer of the Food Share, said he’s going to be looking for “a few extra helpers” to come about 6 a.m. this Thursday, June 4. Why? Because there will be more to unload. Last month the volunteers who came from the Brooklyn and the Putnam Walmarts were so completely impressed with the operation that the Brooklyn store manager, Marchelle Savage sent photos to the corporate office. And the corporate office was completely impressed, too. So much so that they are sending their Reach Across America trailer this Thursday and it will be bringing pallets of goods from Walmart’s northeast corner district.
Hay said Wednesday night he’ll find a place for them at the Food Share site at the farmers market pavilion — off the pavement.
Speaking of: Some coffeehouse volunteers set up a Food Share at the Brooklyn Walmart recently. As people went in to shop, they handed out slips that listed items needed. Hay said they collected 2,000 items including cereal, rice, pasta, canned meat and more.
Add to that what’s becoming more commonplace: Those setting up their own Food Shares calling or dropping by the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse Food Share. They see the success and are looking for advice on how to do it.
This week’s goods will include: Baby food, snacks, canned goods, Celsius drink, macaroni and cheese, sparking water, powdered sport drink mix, sunscreen, chips, candy, popcorn, vitamins, soap and deodorant. In addition, Hay said they will have three pallets of soda so they’ll be able to give a 12 pack to each per person.
Come Thursday morning Hay will find out what frozen foods, produce and more will be coming on the trucks from Connecticut Food Share and from Midwest Food Bank New England. He doesn’t know what he’s getting until they start unloading the trucks. He then directs his crew of 50-60 volunteers (mostly veterans) to pack up the goods. By 9:30 a.m. the drive-thru Food Share is opened. Some 250 to 300 cars pass through.
“We’re veterans who gave to our country. Now we’re giving to our community. We will never stop giving,” he said.
.