Despite a tough economy, shoppers at the Ansonia Stop & Shop donated more than $3,500 worth of food Saturday to the annual “Stuff-A-Jeep” food drive held by the Ansonia Police Department D.A.R.E. Unit.
The food drive, which was held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., benefits the Birmingham Group Health Services and the food bank at Christ Church in Ansonia.
“We are blessed even if we are not rich,” said Robert Porto, of Bridgeport, one of dozens of shoppers to donate items Saturday. “Some have it worse than us.”
The police department filled four Jeeps, on loan from Fitzpatrick’s Jeep in Ansonia, with food from shoppers.
Store managers estimated there was about $3,500 worth of food in the Jeeps.
Shoppers donated another $1,385 in cash — and one Stop & Shop employee anonymously gave $300 in store gift certificates to the drive.
The D.A.R.E program purchased another $325 in store gift cards.
‘What makes it really work is the town goes over and above for any charity,” said Stop & Shop manager, Armand Onorato. “It’s not me, it’s not the cops but it’s the community. I am always impressed with this town and how hard-working blue collar people come through no matter how the economy is.
Sgt. Louis Owens, DARE Coordinator, ran the food drive with the help of policemen Sgt. Ed Henry, Detective Gerald Tenney, Officer Jim Forlish, Officer Mark Guillet, Officer Rick Esposito and Officer Mike Barry.
Some of the officers’ children helped out, as well as members of the International Order of Rainbow Girls, Ansonia Assemble #8.
Owens said people donated mostly stuffing, juice, cereal, pasta and cans of vegetables.
According to Detective Tenney, the first jeep was full of food by 10 a.m.
