The United Way of Western Connecticut is holding a Community Food Drive tomorrow at the Danbury Fair Mall. The collection is 9am to noon. The Drive-By Community Food Drive will benefit the Danbury Food Collaborative.
211 received five times as many calls for food assistance in Fairfield County between March and June of 2020 than it did during the same time last year. Feeding America predicts that food insecurity could increase in Connecticut by 44%, from 11% of the state’s population to 16%, as a result of unemployment and economic dislocation due to the pandemic.
Donations will be collected via a drive through in the mall parking lot located off the main entrance, facing Backus Avenue, closest to L.L. Bean. Volunteers at the collection tent will remove donations from each vehicle's trunk.
Per health code, they cannot accept expired items. The following items will be collected:
All rices & grains: long grain, white, brown, wild, quinoa, couscous, barley
Peanut butter, including natural
Jelly
Canned tuna
Pastas, including whole grain
Pasta sauce* **
Macaroni & cheese*
Beef stew*
Chili *
All beans/legumes,dried or canned: lentils, black beans, kidney, lima, black-eyed, navy, garbanzo, pinto
All canned vegetables and potatoes*
Canned fruit, in light syrup or packed in natural juice
Soups including ramen noodles*
Cereal – boxed or bagged, whole grains*
Oatmeal
Laundry Detergent, cleaning supplies
Hand soap & sanitizer
Diapers, infant & adult size
Feminine hygiene products
*To encourage healthier eating, donors are asked to consider providing low-sodium or low-sugar options.
**When possible, donors are asked to refrain from donating items in glass jars.