Area Need for Food Donations Rising

Officials with food banks across Fairfield County and the state say they're seeing more residents seeking charitable food donations, marking a rise in demand from last year's holiday season.

At the Connecticut Food Bank, need is up about 30 percent statewide. Administrators blame the economic downturn.

"Unfortunately, people are hurting from this recession," Nancy Carrington, CEO of Connecticut Food Bank, told Patch. "They are depending on Connecticut Food Bank and our network of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters for help. People are coming from small towns, suburbs and cities. Our network has seen an average 30 percent increase in need for food assistance. Connecticut Food Bank is now distributing 30 tons of food every business day."

Despite its reputation for vast wealth, Fairfield County is no exception.

Directors of area say they've seen more white-collar families in affluent communities in recent months, as many are still without jobs. What was once seen as a social stigma — to ask for help — is becoming increasingly commonplace.

"We did a study, and 55 percent of our food is going to rural or suburban towns. This is more illustrative to the fact that there is need in every single town in this state," Carrington said.

New Canaan's food pantry is reporting an increase in numbers due to a poor economy.

"We've seen people here that we've never seen before," said Aggie Aspinwall, administrative assistant at the New Canaan Human Services Department. "People have lost their jobs and they are in a time of crisis, luckily our community is so supportive and incredible with their efforts and donations."

The New Canaan pantry started its food drives early and officials there say they're well prepared for greater need.

The safety net has been cast by several groups, including the , sports leagues, churches and the 's "Fill a Fire Truck" drive.

"Response from the New Canaan community has been phenomenal this season," Aspinwall said. "The people of New Canaan really take care of their own. My hope is that people continue with these wonderful efforts throughout the whole year, not just Thanksgiving and Christmas."

Aspinwall added that none of this work could be accomplished without a team of regular volunteers and a handful of generous donations.

Most donations consist of non-perishable foods such as canned sauces and beans, tuna, hearty soups, pastas, cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter, jelly spreads, mayonnaise, crackers and cookies, coffee, tea and paper goods. Food banks generally don't have freezers to store the turkeys, so turkey gift cards are distributed for to people for pick up at local supermarkets.

New Canaan's is just 100 yards away from the local food bank. Last year, the organization's "Gospel Garden" produced more than 600 pounds of fresh organic vegetables to give to the pantry. 

"It is a great thing to have peas that do not come from a can," said Peter Walsh, rector. St. Mark's served 40 families at Thanksgiving last year and that number is expected to double this year.

Citing "the economic meltdown for the growing need in the community," Walsh said he expects need to grow.

"It is particularly palpably felt around Thanksgiving where there is such a focus on food," he said.

Next door in Darien, town Director Olive Hauser said she is concerned "because of the impending unemployment changes coming up in December."

"People don't have income, they have run out of their savings and IRAs, they are coming to a real line and if their unemployment goes away they are really in trouble," Hauser said.

Because Darien is an affluent community, Hauser said wealthy families and individuals may be reluctant to ask for help. 

"That is a problem we have noticed, that people have gotten to a point that they are desperate enough that they know they need to come," Hauser said. That help comes in the form of paying bills, providing food, donating gift cards, and energy assistance. Social Services can help with past due bills, fuel assistance; help with electric, and more. 

Hauser said she wants residents to know this: "Don't be embarrassed to come in and ask for help. That is what we are here for. We do everything in complete confidentiality."

Teresa Giegengack, assistant director of , said he agency has also seen a steep rise in the number of families and individuals asking for help.

"We have seen a huge increase this year; there are a lot more people struggling," she said. "It is very difficult for some to ask for help."

"Everyone wants to be independent, and especially in an affluent community it may be more noticeable to what people don't have. I hope that we make it easy for people to ask for information and match clients to the services they are eligible for," Giegengack said.

The distributed food certificates to 192 Westport households, as well as sending catered meals to 26 homebound seniors, she said.

Kathllen Bordelon, director of volunteers at in Darien, said that although the numbers are up significantly, the outpouring of donations and volunteer efforts have left her feeling "not tired, but exhilarated." As in New Canaan, greater needs out of Darien were meet this Thanksgiving week due to a 25 percent increase of donations. She attributes this increase to the "generosity of the greater community."

Person to Person relied on donations from all over the community this week including: school and church food drives, The Young Women's League and of New Canaan, Citibank, Women of Vision and the "Kid to Kid" program, who helped assemble whole meals into Thanksgiving gift bags for the state food bank organization.

"The single greatest donation was from of Stamford," Bordelon said. "They dropped off 310 bags full of food."

She added that the need is still great and that giving throughout the entire year is a focus.

Bordelon shared a quote that see keeps on her desk: "To the world you may be but one person, but to one person you may be the world."

"If everyone could see that it just takes one person to help another, we would be in a lot better shape," she said.