Middlesex United Way's Pantry Project Expands as Need Grows

MIDDLETOWN, CT- Middlesex United Way is expanding its food and toiletry collection drive as communities see an increased need for assistance. The Middlesex Pantry Project, created in an effort to support local food pantries serving families and individuals struggling to afford the basics, has provided non-perishable food items and toiletries to about a half dozen pantries since mid-December.

"We started the project in response to the SNAP crisis as a way to collaborate with our partner agencies serving families who would be impacted by the changes happening at the same time as the government shutdown. We quickly realized it could be something much bigger," said Shawonda S. Swain, President & CEO of Middlesex United Way.

"Many people make donations during the holidays and that's wonderful, but people need to eat all year long. There's a need long after the holiday decorations come down. We want to recognize that and be there to help serve that need," Swain added.

As part of the initiative, Middlesex United Way is accepting donations of canned goods, non-perishable food items, and other toiletries at its downtown Middletown office located within the Riverview Center building. The team is also collaborating with local businesses and other nonprofits that have set up donation bins at their locations in an effort to make donating easier and more visible across the community.

The project started with collection drives at the Courtyard by Marriott Hartford Cromwell, the Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill, Middletown Chevrolet, Ellafi Federal Credit Union, and has since added additional locations including Middlesex Habitat for Humanity of Connecticut, and Kuhn Employment Opportunities. In February, it also expanded to the shoreline with a collection drive at the Valley Shore YMCA in Westbrook. In addition, Change Inc. recently began accepting donations at its Middletown office on South Main Street.

Donations collected at the Middlesex United Way office and at partner locations across the county are then distributed to food banks and pantries serving the Middlesex County community. Since the project was started in November, the team has made drop-offs at several pantries in Middletown, Durham, Middlefield, Portland, and along the shoreline.

Sue D'Orvilliers, Director of Senior and Social Services for the town of Middlefield, runs a small pantry inside the Middlefield Community Center which serves a variety of local clients including single parents, large families, and seniors.

"The biggest impact that we have in our community is actually underemployment and underfunding, particularly for people who are working several jobs," explained D'Orvilliers. "The blip on the screen with SNAP benefits was fairly devastating for a number of people in our community."

Middlefield's pantry includes all the essentials including canned goods, pasta, and other non-perishable food items, but it also stocks toiletries. According to D'Orvilliers, the items not covered by SNAP benefits are usually the most desired by clients.

"Things like cleaning products, paper products, and [general] household products are important," said D'Orvilliers, adding that the pantry also accepts gift cards to local grocery stores because those allow clients to make their own choices.

In February, Middlesex United Way staff dropped off donations collected as part of the Pantry Project to the Pegasus Free Market, located on the campus of CT State Middlesex. The market provides students (and staff) with food items at no cost.

Amy Lagerstrom, Program Coordinator for the Pegasus Free Market, says she has seen a major increase in need as more families struggle to make ends meet. The market provided over 7,200 units of food and had over 1,500 visits from customers in the month of September 2025 alone. That's nearly double the amount from the same period in 2024. When sharing the data, Lagerstrom noted that 2024 had been a record year up to that point.

That increased need extends to Connecticut's shoreline. The Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries, which serves 11 towns, is providing food to a growing number of families.

"It's difficult for people to admit they need help feeding themselves and feeding their families," said Jennifer Wenderoth-Holster, Program Director for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries. "Every week, we're getting more people that are coming to the pantry [for the first time] that need to register."

In February, the Valley Shore YMCA, based in Westbrook, hosted a collection drive as part of the Middlesex Pantry Project. All donations will benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries in an effort to provide support to the surrounding community.

"We're here for food and fellowship," said Wenderoth-Holster, speaking about SSKP's mission, while pointing out that the agency's volunteers are what keep the operation going strong. "We have over 800 active volunteers, who along with the staff, are just absolutely amazing. They are the heart and soul of this center."

In addition to the pantry sites, the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries also hosts nine community meal sites each week. They are open and available to everyone and not just to residents living in the eleven towns they serve. With at least one community meal being served each night of the week, hot meals are available for those in need every day.

If you are interested in supporting the Middlesex Pantry Project through a donation of items or by hosting a partner collection site, you can find more detailed information by calling Middlesex United Way's office at 860-346-8695 or by visiting: middlesexunitedway.org/mxpantryproject.

Middlesex United Way is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives and creating positive change within the community. Middlesex United Way’s Community Impact Council, made up of volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, awarded more than $300,000 to over a dozen local agencies as part of the 2025-2026 grant cycle. Middlesex United Way also provided funding for Connecticut’s 2-1-1 Helpline that connects callers with vital resources related to housing, employment, and mental health services. To learn more about Middlesex United Way’s work, you can visit the organization’s website: MiddlesexUnitedWay.org.