A chance comment by a food pantry official recently has led to an effort by some local firefighters to help the less fortunate in our community.
Capt. Matt Lawrence of the Huntington Fire Company in Shelton said it started a few weeks ago when Spooner House, the Valley’s homeless shelter and food bank organization, held an appreciation day for various local fire departments.
Lawrence said he and other firefighters overheard Spooner House Development Officer Tony Vellucci mention that the food pantry’s shelves were depleted, so the firefighters decided to help.
This weekend, they held a food collection drive, and Lawrence said the Huntington Fire Company plans to hold more of them in the future.
“It’s a first attempt to try to do something for them,” he explained.
Donors could stop Saturday morning at the firehouse at the intersection of Church Street and Huntington Street in Huntington Center to drop off items (food and office
supplies) that are listed by Spooner House on the Wish List page of its website.
Lawrence said donations would also be accepted Sunday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon, and possibly later if the response is good, both at the Huntington firehouse and at Stop and Shop, 898 Bridgeport Avenue.
Engine 32 will be stationed at the supermarket to give the firefighters’ food collection more visibility at that location.
Lawrence said if parents bring their children, the Huntington firefighters would be happy to provide a tour of the fire engine, including a chance to sit behind the wheel.
He said Spooner House is especially stressing donations of nonperishable food with high protein content, such as canned soup, and noted that the collection drive on Saturday accepted numerous cans of soup.
Donations of cash and gift certificates to purchase items for the food bank are also being accepted.
According to Spooner House’s web site, the food pantry is depleted because the summer is a traditionally slow period for donations.
All sorts of canned food are being accepted, including soup, juice, canned stew, chili and corned beef hash, fruit and vegetables, and sauces and gravy.
Other nonperishable items sought include breakfast cereal and oatmeal, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise, peanut butter and jelly, pasta, rice and beans, coffee, tea, salt and sugar.
Spooner House also needs paper goods and cleaning supplies such as: laundry detergent, fabric softener and bleach, floor, oven, bathroom and kitchen cleaners, toilet paper and tissues, plastic storage bags, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, diapers and feminine hygiene products.
