New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
As virus rates rise, Valley needs for food assistance soar
On Friday beginning at 11 a.m. and lasting until 3 p.m. — or until supplies are exhausted — TEAM, Inc, along with local politicians and volunteers, will be carting 1,100 boxes — each containing 30 pounds of food and dairy products — to vehicles lined up at Nolan Field. Another giveaway is scheduled for Dec. 21 at Nolan Field.
ANSONIA — As the COVID-19 infection rates climb, the needs of Valley residents soar.
“It seems like every time we’re ready to flip the light switch off, we’re flipping it back on,” said David Morgan, who heads TEAM, Inc., the Naugatuck Valley’s anti-poverty agency.
Just when it seemed that the economy was rebounding from the spring shutdowns, the pandemic re-surged costing jobs, closing child care facilities and impacting lives.
“We are trying to help as many people as we can,” Morgan said. “The needs out there are huge. That visual of the cars lined up in October tells a pretty powerful story.”
That was the third of the
Valley food distributions. There were two before the Ansonia event, one each in Derby and Seymour, and two after, one in Derby and another in Ansonia.
At each distribution, food ran out before the scheduled closing time.
Now with the holidays approaching, Morgan said he believes the needs start with food.
On Friday beginning at 11 a.m. and lasting until 3 p.m. —
or until supplies are exhausted — TEAM, Inc, along with local politicians and volunteers, will be carting 1,100 boxes — each containing 30 pounds of food and dairy products — to vehicles lined up at Nolan Field. Another giveaway is scheduled for Dec. 21 at Nolan Field.
Additionally, Mayor David Cassetti and members of his Board of Aldermen will be handing out 1,000 packets, each containing 10 facial masks.
“As I’m watching the infection numbers increase daily, I want people to be safe,” Cassetti said. “I believe masks are the best preventative so I purchased 10,000 which we’ll be giving away Friday.”
Additionally, Cassetti and the Aldermen have
enlisted Road Ready Used Cars, 520 East Main St.,
and Spector Furniture, 385 East Main St., in creating a
toy drive for needy city children.
“I don’t believe any child should go without a toy on Christmas,” Cassetti said.
He urged residents to bring an unwrapped toy to either Spector, Road Ready or City Hall.
Morgan said people who he has never seen before are coming into TEAM for help.
“We had a waitress come in recently. She said no one is going out to restaurants and her tips are down 60 percent,” he recalled. “She said she has a 9-year-old at home who has missed out on so much this year but she’s not going to let it ruin Christmas.”
That waitress is somewhat lucky still having a job while Morgan said many are entering their 39th week of long-term unemployment.
“I’m not sure how many of the jobs we lost are ever coming back,” he said.
While food is at the top of most needs lists, Morgan said it is quickly followed by heat, housing, health and employment.
“We’ve seen increases month to month from anywhere between 7 percent and 27 percent for heating assistance,” he said. “Our Meals on Wheels distribution numbers have doubled this year.”
Looking ahead, Morgan said he worries not about the end of the eviction moratorium on Jan. 1 and the impact that has had on landlords.
“There’s a lot of panic around that,” he said.
Morgan said Congress needs to act on a relief bill — one that will really help people.
“But the bill (they are considering) does not contain the $1,200 per person stimulus payment,” he said. “That was very important for many of our clients.”