Coronavirus Fairfield: Food Drives Underway For Families In Need

FAIRFIELD, CT — After a week filled with cancellations, closures and warnings to stay home, Fairfielders are taking steps to help those affected most by the spread of the new coronavirus and the changes it has brought to everyday life.

Motivated by concern for local seniors — who are at higher risk for the virus and are advised to stay home as much as possible — Alexis Harrison, Helene Daly and Heather Dubrosky organized a food drive in only 48 hours.

"The three of us just started talking on social media and said, 'Let's do something,' " Harrison said.

The trio collected 60 grocery bags of food as well as toiletries and cleaning products Sunday morning at Sherman Town Green. They delivered some of the donations directly to the homes of people in need and gave the rest to Fairfield nonprofit Operation Hope.

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Harrison said a food drive will be held 10 a.m. to noon every Sunday on the green as long as the need continues. As of Sunday, 16 Fairfield County residents had been diagnosed with the virus.

Volunteers are available to pick up prescriptions and groceries for those who are homebound, Harrison said. Anyone requiring help is asked to email FFLDFoodDrive@outlook.com or call 203-556-2546.

"Neighbor helping neighbors — that's really what it comes down to," Harrison said.

Fairfield's Human and Social Services Department saw an outpouring of support last week when it organized a food drive for families of Fairfield students who receive free and reduced lunch from the local school district, which on Thursday shuttered schools indefinitely.

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Fairfield students can still get free breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays at McKinley Elementary School and Roger Ludlowe Middle School, according to a memo from Superintendent Mike Cummings. All children in a family will be able to receive the meals as long as at least one is enrolled in Fairfield Public Schools. The social services food drive provides an additional resource.

"People are being super generous," social worker Allison Seyal said Thursday.

The drive is no longer accepting food, but families with children who get free and reduced lunch are invited to pick up groceries between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays at the town's social services office in the Bigelow Center, 100 Mona Terrace. For more information, email aseyal@fairfieldct.org or call 203-256-3170.

Operation Hope is taking donations, which can be made 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 636 Old Post Road and online at bit.ly/oh-donate or via the nonprofit's Amazon Wish List at bit.ly/oh-pantry-wish-list. In addition to shelf-stable food, Operation Hope is seeking sanitary pads, adult diapers, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, according to a Facebook post from the nonprofit.