DERBY – The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shoppe & Food Bank will undergo an expansion to accommodate a growing demand to feed Valley families in need.
“Over the last five years, we’ve experienced a real steep trajectory upward in the need and calls for food. This upward trajectory is unsustainable in our current building,” said Remy Kocurek, St. Vincent de Paul’s executive director.
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The food bank and thrift shop at 237 Roosevelt Dr. has been serving Valley residents for 44 years. Kocurek said the number of people who received food assistance from the food bank rose to 7,688 in 2025, an increase of 112 percent from 2021. Kocurek said the food bank served 6,279 people in 2024 – a 22 percent increase in just one year.
Kocurek said the beginning of 2026 is following the same pattern. She attributed the increase to both high grocery prices and the interruption of the federal food stamp program, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), last year.
“When I started here, a good price for a can of coffee was $1.88 and this week that same can of coffee is $6,” she said. “And with the SNAP benefit interruption, we got hundreds of calls for food in just a few days.”
Kocurek said it was a challenge, but the food bank was able to respond.
“If you’re hungry and in need, we won’t turn our back on you,” Kocurek said.
Due to the limited space in the building’s existing layout, Kocurek said she can only accommodate one household appointment every 30 minutes at the food bank.
The demand has led her to stretch the food pantry’s hours each day during the work week and to open three Saturdays a month, she said.
“There are just not enough hours in the day to satisfy this burgeoning need at our present handling rate,” Kocurek said.
The Expansion
The building expansion was unanimously approved by the Derby Planning and Zoning Commission at its Nov. 18, 2025 meeting,
“The zoning approval we received (for the building expansion) will enable us to increase the number of people served by 300 percent,” Kocurek said.
Kocurek said the majority of the expansion will focus on increasing the size of the food pantry.
“This will extend our building by 2,500-square-feet, out the back with two stories, to support our mission,” Kocurek said.
The property is next to Apollo Apizza. Route 34 is in front of the property and Park Avenue is behind the property.
The expansion will also enlarge the space in the intake and sorting area for the attached thrift shop, and add a second story for storage, Kocurek said.
St. Vincent de Paul relies on donations for its thrift shop, where proceeds from sales directly benefit the food bank. The shop features three large rooms filled with both new and gently used clothing, shoes, knick knacks, collectibles, toys, furniture, electronics and more. When able, Kocurek said clients are given vouchers to purchase items there.
The food pantry expansion will increase the existing 1,073-square foot space by nearly 800 square-feet and change the way clients currently receive food, Kocurek said.
Currently, when a client comes to the facility, they are handed a list of available food items. Then they check off what they need and a volunteer shops for the food, bags it and brings it to the client waiting outside. Kocurek said the existing cramped quarters don’t allow for public entry.
“The expansion will allow people to come inside (the pantry) for the very first time where they can grab a cart, walk through the aisles and shop,” Kocurek said. “It will also allow us to at least triple the number of people streaming through the aisles obtaining food at any given time. We’ll be able to help more people, and offer them a more respective, welcoming environment.”
Kocurek said the project will cost about $650,000 and will be funded through various fundraising efforts and grants. She hopes to have shovels in the ground after Easter, with a project completion date before Thanksgiving. The food pantry and thrift shop will remain open during construction.
St. Vincent de Paul board member Patricia Tarasovic said the expansion is welcome news.
“The expansion will allow St. Vincent de Paul to serve three times as many individuals and families as we do today,” Tarasovic told the Valley Indy via an email. “It will create a grocery style setting which will allow people to walk through the aisles and choose the foods that they feel are best for their families. Providing this level of choice restores dignity and helps families feel respected while receiving the support they need.”
St. Vincent de Paul relies on grants, fundraising and donations. Much of the food items come from a partnership with CT Food Share, as well as from TEAM, Inc., Midwest Food Bank New England and donations from the public, according to Kocurek. The nonprofit has five full-time employees, one part-time employee and about 55 volunteers.
Want To Volunteer?
Kocurek has put out a call, seeking more volunteers to help St. Vincent de Paul’s mission. She said anyone who can spare some time helping sort and pack food, do food pick-ups and dump runs and other tasks are encouraged to contact her at 203-734-7577. More information can be found on St. Vincent de Paul’s Facebook page.