Needs Clearing House Organizes Pizza Buffets for Area Shelters

The local non-profit The Needs Clearing House (NCH) has begun a program to feed the hungry and needy in Fairfield County.

The program is now providing to the area’s needy well beyond the holiday season with a program that’s designed to run year-round.

According to NCH Co-Presidents Joe Kaliko and Fred Camillo, and Executive Director Phil Brous, a pilot “Pizza Buffet” was held during November, offering a real nutritious treat and diversion from food served in many shelters.

The “pilot” was a big success and now there are plans to expand to other social service agencies including one in Greenwich.

Some 200 people were treated to pizza for lunch and dinner at the Bridgeport Rescue Mission (BRM) and at the Disability Resource Network (DRN) last month.

The BRM feeds the hungry, no questions asked, everyday of the week; while the DRN services some 100 handicapped and brain-injured people daily in two locations — in Bridgeport and Shelton.

The NCH not only provides the food for all, but also gives the kitchen staff and other staff at these facilities a break from having to prepare a meal for so many people. The donated meals also help the agencies conserve their resources for another meal.

NCH has partnered with Aaron’s Furniture of Bridgeport and Planet Pizza of Greenwich, Fairfield and Shelton to make this now monthly program a reality.

In December, Greenwich’s Kid in Crisis joined the list of “Pizza Buffet” beneficiaries. Expanding also to two women’s shelters in Bridgeport, NCH and its partners will now be feeding some 250 people every month at dates and times chosen by the recipient organizations.

The BRM and its women’s shelters had a pizza gathering on Dec. 3, at its locations in Bridgeport.

Kids in Crisis will be receiving their pizza pies for dinner on Friday, Dec. 12. The DRN will receive their pies for lunch at both their Bridgeport and Derby locations on Dec. 19.

These events will be held monthly and people wishing to participate via making donations are asked to log on to www.theneedsclearinghouse.org for donation information.

The NCH is a 501c3 public charity.

Photo credit: Flickr.com.