Sikorsky project aids Spooner House

SHELTON >> Spooner House, the Valley’s homeless shelter, was the beneficiary of food drives conducted in April and May by Sikorsky, headquartered in Stratford.

A Lockheed Martin company, Sikorsky’s M.E.N.U. Project (Mission: Engage, Nourish, Unite) aims to provide food items and funds to aid local veterans using the Valley Food Bank and the shelter at Spooner House. Sikorsky joined Lockheed Martin business units across 14 states and two countries in the M.E.N.U. initiative. Each drive outside Connecticut benefits a local food bank organization.

“It has been an extreme pleasure to work with the nice people at Spooner House and shelter and to help continue the positive impact they are making in the local community,” Chris Quilici, one of the primary coordinators of the M.E.N.U. initiative at Sikorsky, said in a release. “This experience made us aware of how difficult it has become for many of our nation’s veterans to acquire food.”

The Sikorsky M.E.N.U. drive collected 1,346 food items. Online donations from employees and their families totaled $10,368, while other internal fundraisers brought in $5,941, making the grand total of financial donations $16,309, according to the release.

“We are extremely grateful for the time, energy and support of the Sikorsky community, which went above and beyond to serve the local community,” Spooner House Executive Director Susan Agamy said in the release. “A sincere thank you goes out to everyone who participated in the Sikorsky M.E.N.U. food drive in support of veterans, neighbors and families in need.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO A presentation check is held by Susan Agamy, executive director of Spooner House and Daniel C. Schultz, president of Sikorsky. a Lockheed Martin Company.