How To Help Feed The Hungry This Thanksgiving

BRANFORD, CT —Four hundred families in town depended on the Branford Food Pantry to help put food on their tables this past year. Talking numbers, that’s more than 500 people, 189,000 subsistence meals for the year. The Pantry gives. And it receives, but not enough.

“There has always been a struggle to obtain enough food,” the Pantry says on its website.

The Pantry, previously known as the Branford Food Council, was begun by Branford churches in 1978; more than four decades later, and the need remains great.

The all-volunteer Pantry does get quantity discounts or surplus food from stores, and gets half of its supplies from the Connecticut Food Bank at “deep discounts,” and helps teams, organizations and businesses to run food drives, but still is in need. But, as the Pantry says, “nobody has been turned away and the amount of food per family has not been reduced.”

It’s that time of year, too, when the Pantry provides special Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

So, how to help?

First, for those who are able, donating money is the best way to help. It's just that simple. The Pantry's dollars go further purchasing food and supplies though the Connecticut Food Bank and through retailers. Check should be made out to, and sent to, the Branford Food Pantry, 30 Harrison Ave., Branford, CT 06405.

But food donations are vital.

For its holiday programs, people can drop off turkeys from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays up to Dec. 13. Those with "a lot to donate," should call Jay Webb at 203-215-3533 to make special arrangements.

And, an awesome event is planned for Nov. 23; the 5th annual 'Give a Cop the Bird' fundraiser.

Branford Police will give residents the opportunity to "Give a Cop the Bird," from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 at Branford Big Y, 1075 West Main St. Cops will be collecting birds - turkeys - as well as non-perishable foods, such as peanut butter, jelly or jam, stew, tuna fish, juices, cereal, hearty soups, canned chicken or pork, hash and other meat-containing foods.

And, the Branford Food Pantry has a constant need for routine items such as cereal, peanut butter, soup, stew and coffee. Those and other items can be donated directly to the Pantry by calling 203-481-3663 to schedule to drop off.