Fundraiser for Thanksgiving underway in Clinton

CLINTON — A turkey dinner with all the fixings on every Thanksgiving table — vegetables, cranberry sauce, rolls and pies — every table in Clinton is the goal of the Full Tables on Thanksgiving.

“We were just sitting around one day, thinking about Thanksgiving, and wondered what Thanksgiving was like for the people who have come to rely on the food pantry,” said Miner Vincent, president at Families Helping Families.

“We decided we wanted all those people to have a table like ours at Thanksgiving,” he said.

Money and grocery gift cards, in the amount of $25, are being collected and monetary donations will purchase additional gift cards. These donations will be distributed through the Clinton Food Pantry at 55 Church Road.

Since starting the Thanksgiving project six years ago, Vincent said the need has increased from about 100 families visiting the town pantry weekly to some 400.

“There are times when you get to the end of the line and they run out of food,” said Vincent, referring to the weekly food distribution at the Clinton Food Pantry. “So, what they do is they give them a gift card and the family can go shopping.”

The Thanksgiving event has gone communitywide event with participation from the Clinton Lions Club, Clinton Manufactures Coalition and residents.

“When we sit down at our tables, we wanted to make sure that it just wasn’t another Thursday at other people’s tables,” said Miner. “We wanted to make sure that every family in Clinton would celebrate Thanksgiving because it’s a day that you gather with family and friends.”

Clinton Police Chief Vincent DeMaio. said, “There’s a significant need this year,” I think we’ve seen it worse than ever before. The price of groceries is sky high now.”

“We want them to have something to be thankful for,” he said, “bring the families together and spread that joy to everybody.”

Full Tables on Thanksgiving, $25 grocery gift cards can be dropped off with Thomas the turkey at the Clinton Police Department on Main Street. Monetary donations can be made online at fhfclinton.org or mailed to P.O. Box 166, Clinton, CT 06413.

Contributed photo With Thomas the turkey at Clinton Police Department are members of the Clinton Manufacturers Coalition, including Kathy Tanner, Bausch Advanced Technologies Inc.; Judy Pozzi, Roper Thermals; Scott Law, Argo Ems; Phil Williams, Kenyon International Inc.; Rachel Browning, Roper Thermals; and Bob Warner, Clinton Manufactures Coalition; with Miner Vincent, Families Helping Families; and Clinton Police Chief Vincent DeMaio.