DERBY — The Derby Police Department’s Auxiliary Unit will hold its 5th Annual Holiday Food Drive to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Derby on Sunday, November 21, 2021 from 9 am to 2 pm at BJ’s Wholesale Club located at 20 Division Street, Derby.
At the “Stuff-A-Cruiser” event, Officers will accept non-perishable food donations to feed Valley area families in need.
After a 2020 hiatus, our food drive is back in 2021, now at BJ’s Wholesale Club in Derby!
Help feed your neighbors in need while shopping for your own Thanksgiving meal.
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 5th year, the Officers of Derby Police Department’s Auxiliary Unit will accept donations as customers leave BJ’s, stuffing Derby Police Cruisers full of food for holiday meals and daily nutrition. Members of the public shopping elsewhere are also encouraged to come to the BJ’s parking lot to make their annual donation.
“Over the years 2016 – 2019 we have stuffed our cruisers and large SUVs with a total of an estimated $100,000 worth of food. This one day of giving greatly impacts St. Vincent de Paul’s ability to provide food year-round to the food insecure. Our community suffered greatly in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the public health crisis, we could not hold our annual food drive event last year. This year, we need your help more than ever. It is always moving to see how much neighbors help neighbors. Here in the Valley, people take care of one another during the holidays, and every day. Please continue this Thanksgiving tradition of donating to the food bank that serves your community.”
said Derby Aux. Lt. Chris Pizzi.
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.
