The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Families facing food insecurity eligible for free items
Area food banks, pantries and soup kitchens are stocking up, supplying families who use their services with nonperishable items during restrictions made necessary to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
“As the crisis continues and unemployment rises, families facing food insecurity may struggle in coming weeks. This list of resources is intended to support them,” state Sen. Mary Daugherty Abrams, DMeriden, said in a prepared statement.
Her constituents live in Middlefield, Rockfall, Middletown, Cheshire and Meriden.
“As this crisis continues, we must support everyone in our communities, and that includes those who have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19’s impact on the economy. I hope that those who find themselves in need can receive assistance during these tough times, and those who are in a position where they can make donations support these vital community resources. We must remain united in the face of this extreme challenge,” Abrams said in a press release.
Many locations require paperwork or proof of residence, she said. Visitors are encouraged to call before visiting any location as they may have new protocols in place during the virus outbreak.
The list may not include every location in the 13th District, but is intended to support members of the community in need, Abrams added.
Middlefield
Middlefield Food Bank, Middlefield Social Services, 405 Main St., 860-349-7121, is open by appointment.
Middletown
Amazing Grace Food Pantry, 16 Stack St., 860-3473222, is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The St. Vincent de Paul Middletown soup kitchen, 617 Main St., 860-344-0097, is handing out takeout meals from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
A mobile food pantry is available at Cross Street AME Zion Church, 440 West St., from 10 to 11 a.m. on the second Thursday of every month.
The Shiloh Baptist Church Food Pantry, 346 Butternut St., Middletown, 860-346-8295, distributes food on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 4 to 5 p.m.
The Zion First Baptist Church Food Pantry, 16 James A. Moses Ave., Middletown, 860-347-5074, is open every third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. Emergency food is available by appointment only.
Meriden
Salvation Army, 23 St. Casimir Drive, Meriden Corps Community Center, 203-235-6532, has an emergency food pantry running from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursday.
The soup kitchen, at 460 Broad St., serves individuals and families Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 1 p.m.
New Opportunities of Greater Meriden, Old Nappier Building, 74 Cambridge St., 203-235-0278, is also providing food.
Meals on Wheels is continuing delivery. Anyone who received meals at a site should call to arrange home delivery.
Operation Pantry, the food bank offering a threeday supply of food to those in need, can be visited Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon. Patrons can receive items once a month. Distribution is dependent on the available supply.
Apostolic Community Church Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen, 146 Center St., 203-639-0780; is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Meriden Soup Kitchen at First Baptist Church, 460 Broad St., 203-980-3372, is available weekdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Cheshire
Cheshire Community Food Pantry, 175 Sandbank Av., 203-699-9226, serves customers Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon and Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 2:30 to 6 p.m. by appointment only. Donations can be left in the donor vestibule during regular hours. For information, visit Cheshire Food Pantry on Facebook.