If we could all tear ourselves away from the election campaigns for a minute, the Advocate ran a story today about the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County having only 5 Turkeys in its freezer.
By Friday afternoon, Lombardo, the executive director of the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, had five turkeys to distribute to needy families for Thanksgiving. Her agency’s goal is to distribute 3,000.The food bank had about 1,400 turkeys at this time last year, Lombardo said, but past donors have not been as generous in 2007 because of a slumping economy.
“Oil is up,” Lombardo said. “That means heating is up. That means gas is going to be back up. All of these things . . . impact a donor’s ability to reach deep.”
They also affect those who receive meals from soup kitchens and other food distribution programs. In October, The Associated Press reported that food banks nationwide face severe shortages as a result of a reeling Wall Street and increased living costs.
“I can see the domino effect occurring,” Lombardo said. “And we’re feeling it here. Food banks across the nation are feeling this issue.”
The food bank distributes donated food to pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford and Wilton. Last Thanksgiving, the food bank collected 2,800 turkeys for families in need.
Please open your hearts, and help us ensure our neighbors enjoy this traditional American holiday.
Please call us at 203-358-8898 or email amytarantino@sbcglobal.net and let us know how you can help.
source: The Advocate, Food bank running low on Thanksgiving turkeys, By Jeff Morganteen, November 4, 2007
