Food drive to benefit WHEAT

WEST HAVEN — The “West Haven Rocks WHEAT” food drive will be held Saturday at the OffShore Restaurant & Lounge parking lot, to benefit the West Haven Emergency Assistance Taskforce, or WHEAT, according to a release.

This year’s effort, set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 20 at the 852 Jones Hill Road site and organized by City Council member Barry Lee Cohen, R-10, “brings together local partners, including Yale West Campus,” the release said.

“For the second year running the event is supported by Yale West Campus team members and other volunteers, who will be on hand to request that drivers pop open their trunks for quick retrieval of food donations,” the release said. Items sought include peanut butter, tuna fish, cereal, pasta, jelly, tomato sauce, soups and canned fruits and vegetables.

Checks made payable to WHEAT also will be accepted, the release said.

“I couldn’t have received a faster, more enthusiastic response from our partners at Yale West Campus to once again help with this drive and most importantly support Westies in need,” Cohen said in the release.

Yale University’s West Campus straddles the West Haven-Orange line. “We know that many in our local towns continue to face difficult times and we want to play a part to support this community initiative. I’m grateful to our partners in West Haven for coming together to help out,” Meghan Dahlmeyer, director of finance and administration at Yale’s West Campus, said in the release.

Mark Laoue, owner of Off-Shore Restaurant, again is offering use of his parking lot for the drive, which allows for social distancing and following of current health guidelines.

“A true-blue Westie, Mark’s quiet, yet committed support to West Haven rocks!” Cohen said in the release.

For more information, call Cohen at 203-645-2913, or email him at bcohen@westhaven-ct.gov or Jon Atherton at jon.atherton@yale.edu, the release said.