11th Annual Valley Has a Heart Food Drive

Double the Sweetness this Valentine’s Weekend with two events to benefit Spooner House

11th Annual Valley Has a Heart Food Drive and 2nd Annual In Love and Chocolate

(Shelton, CT - February 12, 2013) – Spooner House will be the beneficiary of two heart warming events on Saturday Feb. 16 and Sunday Feb. 17. As always food stocks are depleted during any kind of a storm, so we are in need of generous contributions right how to restock following the urgent distributions Spooner House executed during Blizzard Charlotte. At this time, both events are planned to be held regardless of weather.

The 11th annual Valley Has a Heart food collection will be held on Saturday, Feb. 16 at three Stop & Shop stores in the lower Naugatuck Valley: Ansonia, Seymour and Shelton. Stop and Shop is the marquee sponsor for this year’s Valley Has a Heart drives. The goal is to gather enough non-perishable food to last for at least two months and $3,000 in cash to use for restocking the shelves as needed during the cold winter months. The collections will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at each location. A list of the most needed items is included at the end of this release.

The Stop & Shop stores where donations can be made are at 100 Division Street in Ansonia, 15 Franklin Street in Seymour and 898 Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton. This year Spooner House is happy to have Stop & Shop as a marquee sponsor, as well as site sponsors, Dan Jacobs Porsche Specialists of Oxford, servicing Audi, Porsche and Volkswagon vehicles and Dworken, Hillman, LaMorte & Sterczala, P.C. of Shelton, providing accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services that reflect the highest standards of integrity.

On Sunday, Feb. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. the Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund is hosting a chocolate lover’s paradise, In Love and Chocolate, with proceeds being split between Spooner House and the Turtle Shell Fund. For $25 per person, patrons will be able to sample chocolate creations from the best of Connecticut’s confectioners, sip champagne (for those 21 or older), listen to live music, enter to win door prizes and much more. Among the more than 20 exhibitors serving up sweet samples this year are Crave (Ansonia), Royal Bakery (Shelton), Pink Cupcake Shack (Shelton), Burnt Bakery (Seymour), Chocolate Pizza Kitchen (Shelton), Stone Gardens (Shelton) and Starbucks (Shelton). 

In Love and Chocolate will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott, 780 Bridgeport Avnue in Shelton. Tickets are available at all Liquid Lunch locations (434 Howe Avenue and 6 Research Drive in Shelton and 84 South Broad Street in Milford) and at Spooner House, 30 Todd Road in Shelton. Tickets may also be purchased at www.turtleshellfund.com/events and those tickets will be held for pick up on the day of event at Will Call. For questions, please call Nicole Heriot of Liquid Lunch at 203-926-6038.

“We were pleased with the outpouring of support and enthusiasm from these two heart warming events last year,” commented Susan Agamy, Executive Director of Spooner House. “We are looking forward to receiving even more support from the public this year. Our lead sponsors of the food drive again this year are Stop & Shop, Dan Jacobs Porsche Specialist and Dworken, Hillman, LaMorte & Sterczala. In Love and Chocolate is a fund raiser with a chocolate coating and will again showcase the skills of chefs and restaurants who have donated their supplies and talents to create the delicious sweet treats.”

Volunteers are still needed for “The Valley Has a Heart” food drives at each location to collect and organize the food. Spooner House encourages everyone to bring their loved ones to help or to organize a group in support of this cause. Please call Tony Vellucci at 203-225-0453 if you are able to provide just a few hours of help on Feb. 16. This is a great activity for scouts, church youth groups, high school students and civic clubs who are often donate community service time.

Those unable to visit one of the three Stop & Shop stores on Feb. 16 are still encouraged to make a donation.  Please make checks payable and mailed to: Area Congregations Together, Inc., Spooner House, 30 Todd Road, Shelton CT 06484.  Donations may also be made via PayPal by clicking on the Donate button at www.actspooner.org.  Deliveries of non-perishable food items are also welcomed at the above location Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or to set up a special time for food delivery call 203-225-0453.

In Ansonia, donations for the Spooner House food bank may also be brought to the office at Christ Episcopal Church 56 Cliff Street Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or call 203-734-2715 to arrange for drop offs at another time.

Spooner House is in need of the following non-perishable items:

Juices/Powdered Drink Mix            Macaroni & Cheese

Soups            Rice

Stews            Canned/Instant Potatoes

Canned Chili             Coffee/Tea

Tuna            Corned Beef Hash

Canned Fruit            Canned Chicken/Meat/Spam

Peanut Butter & Jelly            Canned Vegetables

Cereal & Oatmeal            Beans

Pastas & Sauces

Non-profit Area Congregations Together, Inc. (ACT) was formed in 1979 to help fill gaps in the Naugatuck Valley’s social service network. Today, Spooner House is operated by ACT and is a facility that provides food, shelter and support services to approximately 200 men, women and children each year and over 6,000 people struggling with hunger. Spooner House is recognized as one of the most comprehensive emergency shelter programs in Connecticut and through its food bank provides a week’s supply of groceries each month to participating families throughout the Naugatuck Valley.  Spooner House is devoted to helping people establish self-sufficiency in an atmosphere of respect and dignity. Area Congregations Together, Inc. is a partner agency of the Valley United Way.