Fairfield Charity Provides Hope

Most Fairfield families will never know what it’s like to spend a night without a roof over their heads. Or how heartbreaking it is not to be able to feed your children. But for the hundreds of families that faced those hardships last year, Carla Miklos and Operation Hope were there.

“There’s definitely, right in this community, people that are hungry,” says Carla, the group’s executive director. “And thanks to the generosity of their neighbors, we’re able to satisfy them.”

Operation Hope was started in 1986 to offer food and shelter to homeless and impoverished families in Fairfield. Its Nichols Avenue shelter takes in single people and families for a six-week program. They not only get a place to sleep and meals, but crisis counseling and some job skills training to try to make sure they will not need to return.

“It’s not like a shelter where somebody’s just coming in for one night, and they’re not sure if they’re going to have a place,” Carla says. “The program’s working for them, and they’re working the program.”

For those who have homes, but need a meal, Operation Hope also operates Fairfield’s community kitchen and pantry. Volunteers cook meals twice a day, every single day of the year. And those who demonstrate need can pick up groceries at the pantry twice a month. Last year, 471 families were able to make 105,000 meals through the generosity of Operation Hope’s donations.

Though the pantry’s shelves are now flush with holiday donations, Carla said Operation Hope is always in need of more support. She’ll make the current supplies last well into the spring, but the pantry is always open to take canned goods, and can even store meat and bread products in its freezers.

But the items Carla looks for the most are the ones that most people don’t think to donate. Because they’re not covered by food stamp programs, toiletries, diapers and paper products are a much-needed commodity in pantries like Operation Hope’s.

The other big need is volunteers. Between the 24-hour shelter, the year-round kitchen, and the food pantry, Carla says she has a lot of opportunities for kind neighbors to help.

“Everyone who has had that opportunity finds it very rewarding,” Carla says.

Operation Hope accepts donations any time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at its headquarters, 636 Old Post Road. To volunteer, contact Michelle Stearns at (203) 292-5588 or mstearns@operationhopect.org.

 

Have you ever volunteered with Operation Hope? Share your experiences below. Is there another group in town you think deserves attention? Send suggestions to gcanuel@mainstreetconnect.us.

 

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