Valentine’s Day Food Drive

Area Congregations Together invites you to make this a meaningful Valentine’s Day Weekend by giving your time, cash or food where there is a real need. 

Area Congregations Together (ACT) and the Valley Food Bank Network has announced details for the annual Valley Has a Heart” food collection. 

This year the drives will be held on Saturday, Feb. 13 – one day before Valentine’s Day – at three Stop and Shop stores in the Naugatuck Valley: Ansonia, Seymour and Shelton. 

The goal is to gather enough non-perishable food to last for at least two months and $3,000 in cash to use for restocking the shelves as needed during the cold winter months. 

The collections will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at each location. 

The Stop and Shop stores where donations can be made are at 100 Division Street in Ansonia, 15 Franklin Street in Seymour and 898 Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton.

A list of the most needed items is included below. 

Volunteers are also needed at each location to collect and organize the food. The Valley Food Bank Network encourages everyone to bring their loved ones or organize a group to support this good cause. 

Please call Liz Holcomb at 203 – 225-0453 if you are able to provide just a few hours of help that day. This is a great activity for scouts, church youth groups, high school students and civic clubs who are often required to donate community service time. 

Those unable to visit one of the three Stop and Shop stores on February 13 are still encouraged to make a donation. 

Checks should be made payable and mailed to: Area Congregations Together, Inc., Spooner House, 30 Todd Road, Shelton CT 06484. 

Donations may also be made via PayPal by clicking on the Donate button at www.act-spooner.org.

Deliveries of non-perishable food items are also accepted at the above location Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or to set up a special time for food delivery call 203 – 225-0453.

In Ansonia, donations for the ACT Food Bank may also be brought to the office at Christ Episcopal Church 56 Cliff Street Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or call 203 – 734-2715 to arrange for drop offs at another time. 

Non-profit Area Congregations Together was formed in 1979 to help fill gaps in the Lower Naugatuck Valley’s social service network. 

Today, ACT operates Spooner House, a facility that provides shelter to approximately 250 men, women and children each year. Spooner House is recognized as one of the most comprehensive emergency shelter programs in Connecticut. 

The ACT Valley Food Bank Network provides a week’s supply of groceries each month to participating families throughout the Naugatuck Valley. 

Last year, the Valley Food Bank provided more than 104,000 meals feeding more than 5,700 people, 2,148 of them children; and 35,187 meals to residents of the Spooner House.

ACT is devoted to helping clients establish self-sufficiency in an atmosphere of respect and dignity. Area Congregations Together, Inc. is a partner agency of the Valley United Way. 

The Valley Food Bank Network is most in need of the following non-perishable items:
Canned/Powdered Milk
Juices
Soups
Stews
Canned Chili 
Tuna
Canned Fruit
Canned Chicken
Canned Meats/Spam
Peanut Butter 
Jelly
Macaroni &
Cheese
Rice
Crackers/Snack Items
Canned/Instant
Potatoes
Dessert Mixes
Coffee/Tea
Corned Beef Hash
Canned Vegetables
Cereals
Oatmeal
Beans
Pastas 
Sauces/Gravy
Ketchup/Mustard/Mayonnaise
Salt

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