The Spooner House annual frozen turkey and fixings drive for holiday meal baskets has begun and will continue through mid December.
The goal for this holiday season is to prepare 700 meal baskets; the items suggested for each basket are at the end of this release.
More people than ever in the lower Naugatuck Valley are in need of support to obtain all the ingredients necessary for satisfying holiday meals. Individuals, families, businesses, schools, congregations and civic organizations are encouraged to collect items or complete baskets.
“Last year we collected enough food for 700 baskets and more than 2,600 individuals were served by the Spooner House Food Bank during the holidays,” explained Executive Director Susan Compton Agamy. “This year with the more expensive and smaller turkeys because of the Avian Flu outbreak, we will need everyone to be as generous as possible.”
“We are especially pleased to have the support of popular Smile Dental Center owner, Dr. Bruce Sofferman and his wife Deborah and daughter Sophia, to help with the annual food drive,” continued Agamy. “They wear traditional Pilgrim and Native American Thanksgiving costumes and are joined by a turkey mascot as they work the streets to encourage drivers to drop off turkeys and fixings. Their annual appearance will be on Friday, Nov. 20 from 7 to 10 a.m. in front of On-Time Screen Printing and Embroidery at 155 New Haven Ave. (Route 34) in Derby. The new drives at the Adams Markets this year will really help us meet the needs in the community.”
Dr. Sofferman’s Smile Dental Centers at 318 Oxford Road in Oxford and 61 Elizabeth Street in Derby will also be collecting frozen turkeys and fixings all week during regular business hours Monday through Friday November 16 to 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“This has been a holiday tradition for my family and me for 29 years,” Dr. Sofferman explained. “It’s a way for us to give back to a community we love and once again hope to be a major contributor to the Spooner House goal to provide Thanksgiving meals for all in need.”
In addition to the Smile Dental Center drop offs, other locations and Holiday Food Drive events this year include Adams Hometown Markets in Derby, Milford and Shelton, Seymour Cinemas 12, Starbucks in Shelton, L2 Innovate Computers and Technology in Ansonia, Super Stop & Shop in Ansonia and Shelton, the Boy Scouts “Scouting for Food” drive, the Girl Scout Troop 64164 food collection at First United Methodist Church in Shelton, the Shelton High School basketball clinic at Shelton Intermediate School, as well as continuing the tradition of frozen turkey drives at the Seymour Middle School and the Chatfield-LoPresti Elementary School in Seymour. See details below organized by date.
Visit www.actspooner.org for updates. Also check for updates and pictures on our Facebook page. Again this year, some locations will not be able to accept frozen turkeys, only non-perishable items for those in need. Only the locations below with an asterisk on the first line will be collecting frozen turkeys.
If the dates and times listed are not convenient, you may drop food items at the Spooner House, 30 Todd Road in Shelton, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though there is staff on duty 24/7. Contact Kate to arrange a donation delivery: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 203 – 225-0453 ext. 102.
Seymour Cinemas 12 “End The Hunger Games” Food Drive
Now until Monday, Nov. 30
814 Derby Ave., Seymour, 203 – 734-2000
Bring a nonperishable food donation to the Seymour movie theater and receive a courtesy popcorn along with a raffle ticket for your chance to win up to 4 tickets to a viewing of The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part 2.
Smile Dental Centers
Monday – Friday, Nov. 16 – 20 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
318 Oxford Road (Route 67) in Oxford and
61 Elizabeth Street in Derby
Adams Hometown Markets
Holiday Basket Item Collection now through Nov. 20 and
Thanksgiving Food Drive Friday, Nov. 20 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
656 New Haven Ave., Derby, 203 – 734-9283
1391 New Haven Ave., Milford 203 – 878-7363
200 Leavenworth Rd., Shelton 203 – 929-7982
L2 Innovate Computers and Technology
Ongoing Food Drive Donation Drop-Off Location
335 Main St., Ansonia, 203 – 732-2488
Starbucks, Crown Point Center, Shelton
Ongoing Food Drive Donation Drop-Off Location
504 Bridgeport Ave., 203 – 929-4351
Super Stop & Shop “Food for Friends” Program
Friday, Nov. 6 – 26
100 Division St., Ansonia, 203 – 732-3901
898 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton, 203 – 929-7516
Purchase paper turkeys at checkout for $1 and 60% of all dollars raised at the Ansonia and Shelton locations will go to Spooner House.
Boy Scout “Scouting For Food” Food Drive
Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Food Drive collection throughout Shelton. Look for door hangers being distributed in Shelton the first two weeks of November with collection taking place from doorsteps on Saturday, November 14.
Shelton High School Basketball Team and Shelton Biddy Basketball Clinic
Saturday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
675 Constitution Blvd., Shelton
Special fundraiser at the Shelton Intermediate School, drop off a holiday donation of food or cash in the can to help Operation Holiday, and shoot some hoops for free as the basketball season gets into full swing.
Seymour Middle School and Chatfield-Lopresti Elementary School Will primarily be accepting frozen turkeys, though non-perishable food items will be accepted.
Saturday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The 8th Grade 14th Annual Drive at 211 Mountain Road and 51 Skokorat Street in Seymour
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. More than 6,000 individuals have been served by the Food Bank this past year, comprising over 130,000 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.
SEE BELOW FOR REQUESTED LIST OF FIXINGS
Please place your items in a sturdy box or bin
- 1 Box Instant Potatoes
- 2 Packages of Gravy
- 1 Box/Bag Stuffing Mix
- 1 Can Cranberry Sauce
- 4 Cans of Vegetables, for example, ‑corn/peas/asparagus/yams/carrots/beets
- Pie Crust Mix
- Pie Filling
- 1 Can Evaporated/Powdered Milk
- 1 Jar Pickles
- 2 Cans Olives
- Canned Fruit, for example, ‑peaches/pineapple/mixed fruit/fruit cocktail
- Coffee/Tea
- Powdered Juice Mix
- Extras: Napkins, Sugar, Brownie Mix, Corn Bread/Bisquick Mix
