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Wilton Food Drive Fills Thanksgiving Needs At Person-To-Person

NORWALK, Conn. -- Volunteers at Person-To-Person's food pantry in Norwalk began packing up and distributing nearly 600 Thanksgiving meals to families in Fairfield County on Monday, Nov. 25.

Tauck employees Julia O'Brien, Kristen Kaczegowicz, Aaron Wasserman, Emily Yip, Jennifer Catalano and Sharon Bell pack up Thanksgiving meals at Person-To-Person in Norwalk.

Tauck employees Julia O'Brien, Kristen Kaczegowicz, Aaron Wasserman, Emily Yip, Jennifer Catalano and Sharon Bell pack up Thanksgiving meals at Person-To-Person in Norwalk.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue
Students from Side-By-Side Charter School came to Person-To-Person's Norwalk food pantry to organize donated food Monday.

Students from Side-By-Side Charter School came to Person-To-Person's Norwalk food pantry to organize donated food Monday.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue

The Mayor's Energy and Environment Task Force and New England Smart Energy Group donated 50 turkeys to the cause. The task force was appointed by Mayor Harry Rilling and is chaired by Councilman John Kydes. 

It works to promote ways the city and residents can save energy and be more sustainable. The group has partnered with New England Smart Energy for the Norwalk Energy Challenge, encouraging residents to have home energy assessments so they can cut their energy bills.

"It's important for people to know that organizations like Person-To-Person help, not only at Thanksgiving, but year-round," said Rilling. "People in Fairfield County are very fortunate to have an abundance of most of the things people need, but sometimes fail to realize that there are people here who don't have the things they need, and i'ts important to contribute to help those who really need help."

Stephanie Weiner of New England Smart Energy said the group is donating $50 to the city for every home energy visit conducted in Norwalk. The group also wanted to give back during the holidays, and decided to contribute turkeys to Person-To-Person. 

Norwalk site manager Callie Jayne said Person-To-Person had about 20 extra volunteers on hand Monday and Tuesday to hand out the turkeys and all the side dishes for the Thanksgiving meals, as well as regular clients filling their food orders.

Employees of Tauck in Norwalk and students from Side-By-Side Charter School came down to help organize the food and distribute it. Among the donations were about 10,000 pounds of groceries collected during this past weekend's Postal Food Drive in Wilton.

"Everything is going smoothly. We could not do it without our volunteers," Jayne said.

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes also stopped by the food pantry. Although the country has seen economic growth in the past few years, there is still a need for the services provided by Person-To-Person, he said.

"I hope that people will be moved to come and see the amazing work that is being done here, and make an ongoing commitment, either through financial means or through regular contributions," Himes said.

Person-To-Person Executive Director Ceci Maher said that most of the clients who receive food are working poor, many of whom have two or three minimum wage jobs. She said she was appreciative of the food donations  and volunteers who help during the holidays, but reminded that the organization provides for people all year round.

"When the holidays are over, come Jan. 1, we'll be looking at empty shelves. We need to make sure that the families and children who rely on us have enough food," she said.

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