Danbury Food Drive-Thru Distribution Reaches 12,000+ Families

DANBURY, CT — The food distribution at Danbury High School, hosted by United Way of Western Connecticut and Walnut Hill Community Pantry, served an estimated 12,200 households during its three-month-long distribution.

Connecticut Foodshare provided over 122 tons of produce to residents in need during the program. The City of Danbury assisted with onsite logistical coordination through the Public Works Department and the Danbury Police Traffic Division, with additional support from the Danbury Police Cadets.

The success of the operation was due to the many area residents who volunteered their time each weekend, according to a statement from the Mayor's Office. Local organizations and community groups including Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, Immaculate High School and Danbury High School Key Clubs, and Excel Pre Collegiate Program also volunteered their members to assist in this community effort.

Isabel Almeida, president of United Way of Western Connecticut, said: "While this effort addressed an immediate need for food among our neighbors, we know that the challenges of food insecurity among struggling families and seniors is not over. As we head into the winter months, household budgets will be stressed by higher utility costs, and healthy food purchases can fall by the wayside. Please consider helping your neighbors in need by donating to food pantries and food banks. No one should have to forego eating healthy food to pay for heat or other necessities."

People in the Greater Danbury Area who are facing food insecurity still have a number of places to turn. The United Way's Healthy Savings program provides $10 of free, fresh produce each week at participating grocery stores, along with significant discounts on other healthy foods throughout the store. To learn more about Healthy Savings, contact United Way at 203-883-0879 or email healthysavings@unitedway.org.

A Guide to Accessing Food in Danbury, published by the Danbury Food Collaborative in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, provides information on all the food pantries and food providers throughout the city, including the days and hours they are open, and can be found on the United Way of Western Connecticut website. The mission of the Danbury Food Collaborative is to support Danbury-area residents facing food insecurity. It brings together 24 food pantries and congregate meal providers across the region to increase their capacity to better serve clients and offer more fresh, healthy food. United Way serves as the backbone organization for the Danbury Food Collaborative.

United Way of Western Connecticut is also collecting funds to provide a full Thanksgiving dinner to families in need in partnership with The Amber Room Colonnade. Donations may be made online here.