KidsPlay holds ‘Food for FISH’ drive this month

Donations welcomed through March 31 at the KidsPlay Children’s Museum

TORRINGTON — KidsPlay Children’s Museum is holding a “Food for FISH” drive to benefit FISH/Friends in Service to Humanity of Northwestern Connecticut, located in Torrington, through March. The drive began on March 1.

Last year, the FISH Food Pantry served 522 families/1753 individuals, distributing enough food to provide 108,439 meals, according to a press release.

“KidsPlay is very proud of our partnership with FISH NWCT. Just as we open our doors to all families, FISH too supports all families. Partnerships are an exciting part of living in a community,” said Patty Cassella, Learning Experience Specialist at KidsPlay Children’s Museum, in the release.

Deirdre Houlihan Dicara, Executive Director at FISH NWCT thanked the museum for its help.

“We are so very grateful to KidsPlay for outreaching to the community to help us fill our shelves at the FISH Food Pantry, and for being such a joyful resource to area families,” she said in the release.

Donations needed include any canned, jarred, or boxed non-perishable food items including peanut butter, pasta, pasta sauce, jelly, canned fruit, mac and cheese, cereal, vegetables, canned beef stew and ravioli, and tuna; as well as any toiletries such as deodorants, shaving cream, toothpaste/ brushes, shampoo, lotion, conditioner, soap, combs, brushes and wipes.

Donations will be welcomed through March 31 at the KidsPlay Children’s Museum at 61 Main St. in Torrington, during regular hours, Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As a part of KidsPlay’s commitment to include all visitors, the museum recently joined Museums for All. This signature access program of the Association of Children’s Museums and the Institute of Museum and Library Services encourages families of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly. Museums for All enables lowincome families to visit KidsPlay for a minimal fee of $2 per person with the presentation of a SNAP (EBT) card.

For information about the “Food for FISH” food drive or Museums for All, contact Eileen Marriott at 860-618-7700. For information about KidsPlay, visit www.kidsplaymuseum.org.