Article written by Urban Alliance staff.
From food pantries to soup kitchens and even plots of land that are used to grow crops for FoodShare, many churches and organizations that are a part of the Urban Alliance network are addressing the challenges of food insecurity in our local community, and are putting into action the words that Jesus spoke, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”
One of the ways that Urban Alliance network participants are currently addressing food insecurity is through hunger-relief ministries, including food pantries and free community meals. Traditionally described as “public or private non-profit organizations that distribute food to low-income and unemployed households to relieve situations of emergency and distress,” food pantries are often found in churches and other community organizations. Community meals are offered free of charge to anyone who is in need of a hot meal.
Valley Community Baptist Church, Rehoboth Church of God, Coram Deo, Wintonbury Church, First Church of Christ Wethersfield, House of Praise and Worship, Citadel of Love, Youth Challenge of Connecticut and Calvary Church of West Hartford are each involved with either the operation of or collection of donations for local food pantries or hunger-relief ministries. There are several ways to get involved in these efforts, and each one depends on food donations and volunteer work to continue making an impact.
Here’s how you can help or receive help:
1) Valley Community Baptist Church (Avon)
Accepts: Non-perishable food donations
Food donations go to: Gifts of Love (Avon), Salvation Army’s Marshall House (Hartford), The Storehouse (Bristol) and the Torrington Chapter of FISH
To make a donation: Food donations are collected in baskets at drop-off points throughout the church at 590 West Avon Road, Avon
2) Rehoboth Church of God (Bloomfield)
Accepts: Food donations at the church
Food donations go to: Food pantry that operates at 344 Blue Hills Avenue in Hartford on Tuesdays (10:30 am), Thursdays (5:30-7:30 pm) and Saturdays (10:30 am)
To make a donation: Call Rehoboth’s administrative office at 860-242-8335 or food pantry at 860-243-9787
3) Coram Deo Recovery Living Center (New Britain)
Accepts: Food donations at Coram Deo
Food donations go to: Food pantry that that is available for clients and former clients of their transitional living program
To make a donation: Call Coram Deo’s office at 860-348-3486 to arrange a drop off time
4) Wintonbury Church (Bloomfield)
Accepts: Food donations at the church
Food donations go to: Bloomfield Food Bank
To make a donation: Contact Wintonbury Church at 860-242-8996
5) First Church of Christ (Wethersfield)
Accepts: Non-perishable food donations
Food donations go to: Wethersfield Food Bank on a weekly basis
To make a donation: Food donations are collected in box just outside the entrance of the church at 250 Main Street, Wethersfield
6) House of Praise and Worship (Hartford)
Accepts: Currently accepting food donations for 2-3 Thanksgiving meals
Food donations go to: Families in the local community who are in need
To make a donation: Contact Pastor Joel Cruz at pastors@comcast.net
7) Citadel of Love (My Brother’s Keeper)
Accepts: Non-perishable breakfast and lunch food donations (pancake mix, cereal, breakfast bars, soup, beans, rice, canned vegetables, snack bars, applesauce, etc.), plastic cutlery, paper plates, towels, and napkins
Also in need of: A refrigerator
Donations go to: The operation of My Brother’s Keeper free community meal program
To make a donation: Contact Darlene Holiday at darleneholiday@yahoo.com
To volunteer: Click here.
8) Youth Challenge of Connecticut (Love Kitchen)
Accepts: Food donations, disposable plates/napkins/utensils/cups
Also in need of: A filing cabinet with a lock, a small desk for a laptop computer, a chair for the desk, and two tall storage cabinets with doors and a lock
Donations go to: The operation of Love Kitchen and Love Kitchen on the Road free community meal programs
To make a donation: Contact Dr. Gladys Santiago at lovekitchenct@gmail.com
To volunteer: Click here.
