Cops And Shops: Food Drives in East Lyme and Old Lyme this weekend

The East Lyme and Old Lyme police departments' mission is to protect and serve but this weekend their aim is to help local families serve up a holiday meal.

Donations are especially critical this season as community needs to continue to grow. In the first eight months of 2011, local food pantries report there was a 35 percent increase in emergency food deliveries—and that was before Superstorm Sandy cleared out everyone's refrigerators. 

The Old Lyme Town Police and Resident State Trooper will be conducting a Holiday food drive at the Old Lyme Shopping Center on Halls Road this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. All food donated will be forwarded to the Lymes Youth Service Bureau and Lymes Senior Center. 

Non-Perishables can also be left at the Old Lyme Police Department, 294 Shore Road, anytime between November 12 and November 19. 

Meanwhile in East Lyme, Stop & Shop and the East Lyme Police Explorers have joined forces to host a food drive at the East Lyme Super Stop & Shop, 248 Flanders Road, this Saturday, Nov. 17 and Sunday, Nov. 18 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m..

Residents who have access to nonperishable food, frozen turkeys, household items and/or monetary donations are asked to donate to help feed the hungry in the East Lyme/Niantic and Salem areas.

All donations will go to Care & Share of East Lyme, an all-volunteer food pantry that provides food, financial and emergency support to families living in East Lyme/Niantic and Salem. Last year, the food bank was able to provide 165 local families with food and gifts during the holiday season.