Help Fight Hunger in the Summer
It is a reality with school break and family vacations
(Shelton) —The Valley Food Bank in Shelton operated by Spooner House typically gets very low on non-perishable supplies during August.
"This is primarily because children who rely on free or reduced breakfast and lunch in school are no longer receiving these important meals," explained Susan Agamy, Executive Director of Spooner House. “There is a greater need for food banks during the summer by parents who need to find a way to provide these additional meals. It’s also due to the fact that many regular donors are on vacation. To help us through this difficult period, we have developed a list of ten ways any individual, family, or group in the Lower Naugatuck Valley can help us fight hunger this summer."
The list of ways anyone can help includes these suggestions:
1. Run a neighborhood food drive
2. Organize a food drive at a local grocery store. This is a particularly cool idea on hot days
3. Hold a lemonade stand to benefit Spooner House
4. Shop on Amazon.com. Go to Amazon Smile! then search for Area Congregations Together"
5. Grow a garden and then donate your extra vegetables
6. Take part in the Plumb Memorial Library summer reading program
7. Collect non-perishables at your summer camp
8. Run a restock the household supplies drive for the Spooner House
9. Prepare an evening meal for the Spooner House residents. This can be done by a small group
10. Make a tax-deductible monetary donation.
More detailed information on the ideas above can be found on the Spooner House website, www.actspooner.org. Deliveries of non-perishable food items are always accepted at Spooner House at 30 Todd Road Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. If these times are not convenient, anyone may set up a special time for food delivery by calling 203-225-0453 then listen for the prompt for the supervisor on duty. The Supervisor on Duty will be able to assist setting up a time for delivery. Checks should be made payable and mailed to: Spooner House, and mailed to 30 Todd Road , Shelton CT 06484. Secure donations may also be made via PayPal by clicking on the Donate button at the bottom of the ACT Spooner House home page.
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 150 men, women and children each year. More than 6,000 individuals have been served by the Food Bank this past year, comprising more than 100,000 meals. 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 .
