Danbury community feeds homeless for the holidays
DANBURY — When a local nonprofit wanted to feed the homeless this Christmas, the group realized delivering cold food on the streets would be challenging.
Instead, the homeless were served a sit-down turkey dinner Wednesday evening at Mothership Bakery & Cafe.
Mothership staff cooked the food, while Jericho Partnership acted as waiters and waitresses, providing a “dignified” meal for the at least 25 homeless individuals expected, said Carrie Amos, Jericho president.
“Whether our homeless friends celebrate Christmas or not, it’s the holiday season,” she said. “This is the very least we can do to let you know you’re cared for and valued.”
Jericho had turkeys left over from the 140 that were donated for Thanksgiving. At first, the organization thought it could pass out
the food to the homeless at bus stops.
But Mothership owner Anna Llanos pointed out that the individuals did not have microwaves and would have no way heat the food. She offered to host the group in her cafe.
“I cried,” Amos said.
With traditional shelters closed due to the pandemic, the homeless have been staying at the Super 8 Motel, with plans to turn that building or a similar one into a permanent facility that provides housing and services to this population.
The dinner, however, was targeted toward those still walking the streets.
“But we’re not saying ‘no’ to anyone,” Amos said.
‘Not alone’
This is only one effort to feed the homeless this holiday season.
The pandemic led New Hope Baptist Church to cancel its annual Christmas dinner for the homeless, but is instead delivering 80 meals and more than $1,000 worth of Dunkin’ gift cards to those staying at Super 8 on Christmas Eve.
“We can’t meet inside a church, but we can still do ministry outside of the church,” Deacon Ernest Connor said.
The meals — paid for by the church and made by Bagel Crossing in Bethel — include sandwiches, chips, pickles, tangerines, pastries, soda and water. The church and community members donated money for the gift cards.
“I would just hope they (the homeless) feel the love of Christ and know that even in this season that they are not alone,”
Connor said.
Dorothy Day Hospitality House plans to drop off Walmart gift cards at the shelter. The nonprofit, which was forced to close its shelter due to the pandemic, provides these cards annually.
“The people really, really appreciate the gift cards,” volunteer Joe Simons said. “Some of them, they buy gifts for themselves, but a lot of them like to buy gifts for their friends and relatives.”
The Amber Room Colonnade will provide 70 meals to the Super 8 shelter on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as the Danbury event venue does daily.
This is on top of meals the Amber Room is providing for 65 families through United Way of Western Connecticut and 650 meals to senior citizens the day after Christmas through the New American Dream Foundation, said Doug Polistena, owner/general manager.
The venue has worked with both of these organizations and others throughout the pandemic,
including around Thanksgiving, to feed those in need.
“Everyone seems to be extremely thankful for the partnerships and the collaborations and the food we’re able to provide for them,” Polistena said.
Food insecurity rises
The need for food has increased tremendously during the pandemic.
Dorothy Day Hospitality House, which gives out takeout meals every afternoon, including on Christmas, used to primarily serve the homeless, but residents from the Spring Street neighborhood have been picking up food, too, Simons said.
“A lot of people are facing food challenges now, so we’re glad that we’re able to help out, probably to a greater degree than we were able to before,” he said.
Demand at Jericho’s food pantry has roughly doubled during the pandemic. It was even higher Friday, when about 125 families came, compared to the 45 to 50
households the pantry used to serve before COVID-19, Amos said.
Cars were backed up from the pantry on Maple Avenue to the police station. She attributed the increase to Christmas.
“I can’t imagine being in a line for a box of food I can’t pick out,” she said. “When I go to the store, I get to pick out what cereal my kids want. Now, we’re putting whatever cereal we have in this box.”