'Really Big Food Drive' For Operation Hope In Fairfield Sept. 24

FAIRFIELD, CT — The third annual "Really Big Food Drive," which benefits Fairfield-based Operation Hope, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the Sherman Green in Fairfield, on the corner of Reef Road and Post Road, organizers announced. Connecticut ukulele band, the CUkes, is scheduled to perform as people drop off donations.

Food insecurity, which was exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, remains a concern in 2022, not only in Fairfield County, but throughout the country.

"With higher costs at the grocery stores, many people are seeking charitable food for the first time," organizers said in a statement. "Food pantries and food banks have experienced a 55 percent spike in usage through the pandemic, according to the latest data from Feeding America, the nation's largest network of food pantries and food banks."

Items that will be collected on the 24th include cash donations, gift cards, canned fruit, chili, honey, jelly peanut butter, clam chowder, juice boxes, ground coffee, syrup, hot chocolate mix, cookies, pancake mix, paper towels, body wash, shampoo, tissues, toilet paper, napkins and canned dog food.

Fairfield residents Helene Daly, Heather Dubrosky and Alexis Harrison started weekly community food drives in March 2020 in response to the overwhelming demand that local food pantries and agencies experienced following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

The trio have held 33 food drives and every fall, host the "Really Big Food Drive" to benefit Operation Hope.

To donate online, go to operationhopect.org/donate/.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness of hunger in our local communities, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that 1 in 8 people face hunger. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.