Spooner House Valley Has a Heart Food Drives Slide Past the Plate ...just in time for Baseball Seaso

(Shelton) – In spite of the frigid weekend temperatures, the 15th annual Valley Has a Heart Spooner House food collection drive were held on Saturday, March 4 at the three Stop and Shop stores in the lower Naugatuck Valley. These drives helped Spooner House and the Valley Food Bank slide past the planned goal early this week with some additional food items as well as on-line and at the food bank donations. This time of year, more food is always needed, especially when the temperatures drop as they did last weekend.

The results of the Valley Has a Heart Food Drives were:

Food Items Cash

Ansonia Stop and Shop 1,817 $ 694.41

Seymour Stop and Shop 1,281 $ 900.31

Shelton Stop and Shop 1,625 $ 922.96

Donations at ACT & on-line 305 $2,485.00

Valley Has a Heart sponsorships $1,200.00

The Saturday totals 5,028 $6,202.68

“I’m sure the cold weather kept some people indoors on Saturday but we’re very grateful to the sponsors, individual donors and the enthusiastic volunteers who were there for us at all locations," noted Spooner House Executive Director Susan Agamy. "We also were lucky to receive a number of additional food and monetary donations on Monday to help us slide past both the 5,000 cash and food items goals. Surpassing the monetary goal of by more than $1,000 required an exceptional effort and this was surely a home-run for those we serve."

Spooner House is extremely grateful for volunteers from the following groups who assisted throughout the day: Church of the Assumption Youth Group, Holy Rosary Confirmation Class, Seymour United Methodist Church , Shelton High School National Honor Society, Shelton High School Boys Lacrosse Team, Sound Tigers Booster Club, and Young Emerging Professionals of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Even though the goal was reached, this is a reminder that deliveries of non-perishable food items are always accepted at Spooner House at 30 Todd Road seven days a week though anyone may set up a special time for food delivery by calling 203-225-0453 then dialing 102. Checks can be made payable 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. More detailed information can be found on the Spooner House website, www.actspooner.org.

Non-profit Area Congregations Together, Inc. (ACT) was formed in 1979 to help fill gaps in the lower 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 175 men, women and children each year. More than 4,000 individuals have been served by the Food Bank this past year, comprising more than 120,000 meals. Spooner House is recognized as one of the most comprehensive emergency shelter programs in Connecticut and through its food bank provides ten days' worth of groceries each month to participating families throughout the lower 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 .