The Derby Police Department’s Auxiliary Unit will hold its 2nd Annual Holiday Food Drive to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Derby on Sunday, November 19, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at ShopRite located at 49 Pershing Drive, Derby. At the “Stuff-A-Cruiser” event, Officers will accept non-perishable food donations to feed needy Derby families.
Help feed your neighbors in need while shopping for your own Thanksgiving meal at ShopRite of Derby.
Your non-perishable food donations will stock the shelves of St. Vincent de Paul Society, which distributes food to elderly, homeless, working poor, physically handicapped and mentally challenged people of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. According to data compiled by the Valley United Way, 12 percent of Valley adults reported experiencing food insecurity.
St. Vincent de Paul Society feeds five to eight families per day, totaling around 500 individuals per year.
Now for the second year, the all-volunteer Officers of Derby Police Department’s Auxiliary Unit will accept donations as customers leave the ShopRite store, stuffing Derby Police Cruisers full of food for holiday meals and daily nutrition.
“Last year was our first year collecting donations for St. Vincent de Paul Society and we had a goal of filling just four cruisers full of food. By 2 p.m., the community had shattered our goal,” explains Aux. Lt. Chris Pizzi. “We ended up with 13 and a half cruisers full of food valued at about $15,000. It was a truly amazing and overwhelming feeling of joy to turn all that food over to the food bank.”
According to the Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Remy Kocurek, this time last year the food bank faced a shortage, and was concerned that its shelves would be bare by the end of the holidays.
After all the food that the Derby community donated through “Stuff-A-Cruiser,” they were able to ensure that everyone who needed help received help through the holidays and until the end of March.
“We are looking to the community to come together again and help the less fortunate through a holidays and into the New Year. Show your support for your neighbors by coming down to ShopRite, do your own grocery shopping, and buy one or two extra food items to donate to the food bank,” says Aux. Lt. Pizzi. “And as you celebrate Thanksgiving with your family and loved ones, know that you helped provide for families that might otherwise go hungry.”
ABOUT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop and Food Bank is dedicated to aiding the elderly, homeless, working poor, physically handicapped and mentally challenged people of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. Food comes into the pantry through individual and business donated food, membership to the CT Food Bank in Wallingford, and smart shopping at local stores. Food can be donated Monday – Saturday from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm through the rear door of the building at 237 Roosevelt Drive, Derby, Connecticut.
