Friend,

As we gather together with friends and family this Thanksgiving, it is important to remember to give back to those in need during the holidays. Every year, I share a list of organizations committed to helping the most vulnerable in Connecticut's Fourth District. There are many ways to give back during the holiday season. Local shelters, coat drives, soup kitchens, domestic violence centers, and many more need volunteers and supplies, especially at this time of year.

If you plan to make a donation, volunteer, or attend an event, make sure to confirm with the organization ahead of time. Many of these organizations have volunteer shifts or forms/applications that you may need to fill out before you arrive.

Thank you for taking the time to give back to our district and support your community.

Wishing you and your loved ones a healthy and safe Thanksgiving,

Jim

Donation and Volunteer Opportunities:

Bridgeport:

Bridgeport Rescue Mission

Address: 1088 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport

(203) 333-4087

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm

https://bridgeportrescuemission.org/

Donations may be brought to 1069 Connecticut Ave unit 2B; accepts donations of clothing, personal hygiene items, food, and blankets to distribute to the homeless.

Calvary Saint George's Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen

Address: 755 Clinton Avenue, Bridgeport

(203) 333-5116 ext 15

Hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30am - 11:30am

Church accepts donations of food for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays; accepts food items including nonperishable food and baby food.

Cesar Batalla Family Resource Center

Address: 606 Howard Avenue, Bridgeport
(203) 579-8526

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
Accepts donations of clothing and nonperishable food

Dunbar School Family Resource Center

Address: 445 Union Avenue, Bridgeport

(203) 332-5658

Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30am- 2:30pm
Accepts donations of books and magazines, clothing, food, household goods (dishes, cookware, linens, and furniture), infant goods, office equipment/supplies, personal care supplies, school supplies and toys.

King's Pantry

Address: 30 Florence Street, Bridgeport

(203) 576-0522 or (203) 335-9255

Hours: Monday-Friday: 10:30am-1:30pm
Accepts donations of nonperishable food for the food pantry, and food for the soup kitchen.

Salvation Army - Bridgeport Corps Community Center

Address: 30 Elm Street, Bridgeport
(203) 334-0995

https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/southern-new-england/bridgeport/
Donations of food are accepted for distribution to people in need; holiday food donations are also needed for holiday programs.

Thomas Merton Center

Address: 43 Madison Avenue, Bridgeport

(203) 367-9036

Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-3:00pm

https://www.themertoncenter.org/
Accepts food for the soup kitchen and food pantry.

Darien:

Person-to-Person

Address: 1864 Post Road, Darien

(203) 655-0048

Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am-1:00pm

https://p2phelps.org/
Accepts donations of nonperishable food for the food pantry, clothing that is in season and in good condition, baby clothing/diapers for the Baby Basics Program, household goods and new toy donations for the annual Toy Store and Be A Santa programs. Visit P2P website for details on volunteer opportunities.

Fairfield:

Operation Hope of Fairfield, Inc.

Address: 636 Old Post Road, Fairfield

(203) 292-5588

Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm

https://operationhopect.org/

Operation Hope Kitchen

Address: 50 Nichols Street, Fairfield
(203) 292-5588 , (203) 254-2935

Hours: Saturday and Sunday 8:00am-4:00pm

http://www.operationhopect.org/help/

Accepts nonperishable food for the food pantry and food for the soup kitchen, and personal care toiletry products. Also accepts home and office goods and kitchen equipment for the shelter.

Greenwich:

Neighbor to Neighbor

Address: 1 Horseneck Lane, Greenwich

(203) 622-9208

Hours: Monday - Saturday: 8:30 am - 12:30pm

https://www.ntngreenwich.org/
Accepts donations of clothing, small household goods, children's books, and baby clothing and diapers; closed holidays. Donations are used for agency programs.

Monroe:

Monroe Department of Social Services

Address: 980 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe

(203) 452-2817

Hours: Monday 10:00 AM- 1:00 PM, Wednesday - Thursday 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Friday 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Please call for Saturday hours

http://www.monroect.org/food-pantry

Donations of nonperishable food, condiments, paper goods and toiletries are accepted at all times in the outside donation box. Also accepts animal food/supplies; infant items (clothing, diapers, formula); cell phones; office equipment/supplies; and school supplies.

New Canaan:

Town of New Canaan Food Pantry and St. Mark's Church Parish House

Address: 111 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan

(203) 966-4515

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 8:00pm
https://www.newcanaan.info/new_canaan_food_pantry.php
Accepts nonperishable food donations, toiletries and paper goods and monetary donations. Volunteers are needed during hours of operation to sort, stock and bag groceries.

Norwalk:

Mid-Fairfield AIDS Project

618 West Avenue, Norwalk

(203) 855-9535 Ext.102

https://mfap.org/volunteer
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30am - 5:00pm, Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm
Accepts nonperishable food, personal care supplies and housewares.

Open Door Shelter and Manna House

Address: 4 Merritt Street, Norwalk
(203) 866-1057

Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm

https://opendoorsct.org/get-involved

Accepts donations of food for the food pantry and soup kitchen

Person-to-Person

Address: 76 S. Main Street, Norwalk

(203) 939-1650

https://p2phelps.org/
Hours: Monday and Friday 9:00am - 1:00pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00am - 3:00pm
Accepts donations of nonperishable food, winter clothes, children's books, toys and household goods for use in agency programs.

St. Phillip Parish Food Pantry

Address: 1 Father Conlon Place, Norwalk
(203) 847-4549

Hours: Friday 8:30am - 11:00am

https://www.stphilipnorwalk.org/73
Accepts nonperishable food donations for the food pantry that can be dropped off at any door to the church.

Salvation Army—Norwalk Corps Community Center

Address: 14 Byington Place, Norwalk

(203) 866-2125

https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/norwalk-ct/
Donations of food are needed for the food pantry and for holiday food baskets.

Redding:

Town of Redding Community Center

Address: 37 Lonetown Road, Redding

Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m, Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m, Friday, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

https://townofreddingct.org/government/services/social-services/

Accepting Food Donations on Tuesdays Only from 1-3pm. Donations should be placed outside at the Heritage Center Entrance. Please see website for items most needed.

Shelton:

Spooner House & Valley Food Bank

Address: 30 Todd Road, Shelton

(203) 225-0453

Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm

http://www.actspooner.org/contact.html
Accepts donations of diapers, infant formula and personal care supplies to support agency programs. Seeking volunteers to serve lunch and dinner meals and sort and pack nonperishable food items in the food bank.

Stamford:

The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County

Address: 461 Glenbrook Rd, Stamford

(203) 358-8898

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 3:00 pm

www.foodbanklfc.org

Accepts donations of non perishable and perishable food for the pantry.

Salvation Army - Stamford Corps Community Center

Address: 198 Selleck Street, Stamford

(203) 359-2320

Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00am - 3:00pm

http://ctri.salvationarmy.org/SNE/Stamford

Accepts nonperishable food donations for the food pantry and diapers for the diaper bank.

Trumbull:

Social Services Food Pantry

Address: 23 Priscilla Place, Trumbull

(203) 452-5136

Hours: Monday-Friday: 9:00am - 1:30pm

https://www.trumbull-ct.gov/573/Food-Pantry-Needs-List

Food Pantry is currently closed to the public due to the pandemic. List of donations needed found on website. The Food Pantry has a community drop-off location available at the Trumbull Stop and Shop on Quality Street.

Weston:

Weston Food Pantry

Address: 56 Norfield Rd, Weston

(917) 751-2802

Hours: Open for food donation every Friday 4:00 - 5:00 pm

Westport:

Annual Thanksgiving Feast Fund

Address: Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Rd E, Westport

(203) 227-1261

http://saugatuckchurch.org/ways-to-give/

Assists residents of Westport with an emergency food distribution program and delivers hot means to shut-ins on holidays.

Wilton:

Town of Wilton Social Services Department

Address: Comstock Community Center

180 School Road, Wilton

(203) 834-6238

http://www.wiltonct.org/departments/socialservices/index.html

Call to arrange drop-off time. Accepts donations of perishable and nonperishable food items, personal care items, paper products and detergents.

Events:

Ridgefield:

Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield 40th Annual Turkey Trot

Location: 41 Governor St, Ridgefield, CT

Date: Thursday, November 25, 2021 8:30AM-9:00AM EST

https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Ridgefield/RidgefieldTurkeyTrot

Harbor Point Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run 2021

Address: 1 Harbor Point Road, Stamford

Date: Thursday, November 25, 2021, 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM EST

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/harbor-point-turkey-trot-5k-fun-run-2021-tickets-173807612247

Accepting Donations of non-perishable food items. Most needed items include: Peanut Butter and Jelly, Pasta and Sauce/Mac & Cheese, Rice and Canned/Dried Beans, Canned Tuna/Chicken, Pancake Mix/Hot and Cold cereal, Granola/Snack Bars. All runners must RSVP and sign online waiver to participate.

Trumbull:

Ambler Farm: Thanksgiving Trebuchet and Food Drive

Address: 257 Hurlbutt St. Wilton, CT 06897

Date: Thursday, November 25th 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

https://goodmorningwilton.com/event/ambler-farm-thanksgiving-trebuchet-and-food-drive/