The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Groups to rally to end hunger, homelessness
FISH, United Way organize tours, coat drive, luncheon
TORRINGTON — A day devoted to ending hunger and homelessness in northwest Connecticut is set for Saturday, cosponsored and organized by Friends in Service to Humanity of NWCT and the United Way of Northwest CT.
“Rallying to End Hunger and Homelessness,” starts at 10 a.m. Participants are invited to meet at the Gathering Place at 21 Prospect St. for a group photo, followed by tours of the facility, known as the area’s dropin center for the homeless. After that, people can walk or drive to FISH’s food pantry and homeless shelter at 332 South Main St. for an open house and tours.
“FISH NWCT will open its doors for an open house tour, sharing that they truly are serving our neighbors in need, and that there is no mystery concerning the issues of hunger and homelessness,” organizers said in a statement.
At the same time, Operation Overflow is holding orientation for potential volunteers, starting at 10 a.m. at Trinity Church, 220 Prospect St. Operation Overflow provides an overnight rotating shelter at three local churches and is in need of overnight volunteers.
The event moves at noon to St. Peter’s Hall, 109 East Main Street, for a free community pasta lunch, a coat giveaway and a short awareness presentation on the many organizations involved with feeding families and providing assistance for the homeless population in Torrington.
Speakers will include Deirdre DiCara, Executive Director at FISH NWCT; Owen Quinn, United Way executive director; Nancy Cannavo of Charlotte Hungerford Hospital; Michael Culmo of Mental Health Connecticut; Michelle Anderson of EdAdvance; Julia Scharnberg of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation; Conrad Sienkiewicz of Operation Overflow; and