HVCC Hoping for Food, School Supplies at Weekend Fundraiser

This article was reported and written by Chris Dehnel.

Hockanum Valley Community Council CEO David Engelson has two different wish lists for a major fundraiser this weekend at three Stop & Shop supermarkets. 

He wants to "keep the momentum" going in an effort to stock the shelves at the HVCC food pantry and collect back-to-school supplies. 

The locations for the drive are: 

• Rockville Stop & Shop - Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

• South Windsor Stop & Shop - Saturday and Sunday from  9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

• Vernon Stop & Shop - Noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. 

Engelson said he hope for donations of family food staples like peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese and cheese and cracker snacks for after school, but he also needs to start building inventory for Thanksgiving meals.

Side dishes need to be collected, he said. 

The pantry hands out about 6,000 items each week. 

Engelson said this week that the requests for backpacks filled with school supplies has no exceeded 100.

He said backpacks and basic school supplies can be donated. 
Gift cards and cash donation are always accepted, he said.

HVCC can be reached at 860-872-7727.