Pop-Up Pantry is in New Haven March 2

Connecticut Food Bank, FISH of Greater New Haven and New Haven Firemen’s Benevolent Association Partner for Pop-Up Pantry March 2 in New Haven

Special Day of Food Distribution is Culmination of Community Food Drive

WALLINGFORD, CONN., February 22, 2019 – The Connecticut Food Bank Pop-Up Pantry will be in New Haven, Saturday, March 2, in partnership with FISH of Greater New Haven and the New Haven Firemen’s Benevolent Association. The pantry will be located at the Regional Fire Academy, 230 Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, in New Haven.

The Pop-Up Pantry will operate from 11:00AM to 12:00PM, supplementing a food distribution by FISH of Greater New Haven and the New Haven Firemen’s Benevolent Association that will be from 10:00AM to 1:00PM. The Pop-Up Pantry features fresh and frozen produce, dairy products, and other nutritious foods. The Connecticut Food Bank Pop-Up Pantry is open to all in need of food assistance.

The distribution at the Regional Fire Academy marks the end of a community-wide food drive launched to help federal workers affected by the partial government shutdown. While the shutdown has ended, many workers who went without pay and people who participate in the SNAP food assistance program saw longer lasting effects. FISH of Greater New Haven Executive Director Jilan Crowley said anyone looking to donate food ahead of the March 2 distribution may drop off nonperishable food items at any City of New Haven firehouse. “Know that all donated food will directly support your community by helping people who saw their budgets impacted by the shutdown,” Crowley said.

The Connecticut Food Bank, which provided food to the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound Station during the shutdown and operated several Pop-Up distributions in its service area, is joining the March 2 distribution to supplement the event with fresh foods.

The Pop-Up Pantry is aimed at getting “fresh foods fast” to people in need, said Connecticut Food Bank CEO Bernie Beaudreau.

“Many federal workers in Connecticut were affected by the partial government shutdown. It may be over, but we know that bills piled up for many, and the hardship may linger, and people who participate in the SNAP program to supplement their food budgets saw disruptions to monthly benefit issuance, which likely affected their ability to meet food needs,” Beaudreau said. “This food distribution will help many who are in those situations, as well as people in our community who struggle during the winter to keep food on the table and to keep their homes warm.”

The FISH of Greater New Haven and Firemen’s Benevolent Association food distribution will be Saturday, March 2, from 10:00AM to 1:00PM, at the Regional Fire School, 230 Ella T. Grasso Boulevard in New Haven. The Connecticut Food Bank Pop-Up Pantry will be on site from 11:00AM to 12:00PM, supplementing the distribution with fresh and frozen produce.

Members of the community wishing to support the Saturday food distribution may donate nonperishables by dropping them off at any one of the 10 City of New Haven fire stations. Information about the March 2 event is available by emailing Jilan Crowley at FISH of Greater New Haven: jcrowley@fishgnh.org.

Find information about upcoming Connecticut Food Bank Pop-Up Pantry and Mobile Pantry sites at www.ctfoodbank.org/get-help.

About FISH of Greater New Haven:

The primary mission of FISH of Greater New Haven, Inc., is to provide grocery assistance to the home-bound in the New Haven area. We deliver free bags of nutritionally sound groceries to households in New Haven. The households include families with children, elderly, sick, disabled, veterans, unemployed and underemployed individuals. Our clients are often unable to travel walk-in or mobile pantries and cannot afford an adequate supply of food. FISH is the only agency in the area to deliver free food to its (unfortunately) growing clientele. FISH of Greater New Haven remains a social service organization that is non-profit and non-denominational. FISH is an organization sustained by volunteers who are active service providers, financial supporters, planners and evaluators.

About the Connecticut Food Bank:

The Connecticut Food Bank is committed to alleviating hunger in Connecticut by providing food resources, raising awareness of the challenges of hunger, and advocating for people who need help meeting basic needs. The Connecticut Food Bank partners with the food industry, food growers, donors, and volunteers to distribute nutritious food to people in need. Last year through a network of nearly 700 community-based programs, the Connecticut Food Bank distributed enough food to provide more than 20.3 million meals. The Connecticut Food Bank provides food in six Connecticut counties – Fairfield, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, and Windham counties – where nearly 300,000 people struggle with hunger. Visit us on the web at www.ctfoodbank.org, like us on Facebook and follow @CTFoodBank on Twitter and Instagram.

The Connecticut Food Bank is committed to alleviating hunger in Connecticut by providing food resources, raising awareness of the challenges of hunger, and advocating for people who need help meeting basic needs. The Connecticut Food Bank partners with the food industry, food growers, donors, and volunteers to distribute nutritious food to people in need. Last year through a network of nearly 700 community-based programs, the Connecticut Food Bank distributed enough food to provide more than 20.3 million meals. The Connecticut Food Bank provides food in six Connecticut counties – Fairfield, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, and Windham counties – where nearly 300,000 people struggle with hunger. Visit us on the web at www.ctfoodbank.org, like us on Facebook and follow @CTFoodBank on Twitter and Instagram.