Nick White knows there are hungry people in New Canaan and knows families who have received food from the towns food pantry. The New Canaan High School junior is leading the charge this weekend to make sure people are not going hungry.
White, 16, volunteered to run the New Canaan portion of the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, organized by the U.S. Postal Service. The project is one he took on to help area families and to perform community service on the way to becoming an Eagle Scout.
White was at the New Canaan Post Office on Friday to load up on mail carriage bins that he and other volunteers will use to sort groceries collected from New Canaan homes by mail carriers or dropped off at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on South Avenue. His friend and fellow New Canaan High volleyball team member Zach Edwards has also helped.
The need for food is historic, White said, especially because the food pantry tends to have less food when school is not in session. During the school year, several New Canaan High sports teams help to collect goods. The food pantry likes when we help out, White said. Its helping to feed families.
Food Pantry Coordinator Maggie Downs-Angus agreed. What is collected this Saturday is what will help sustain the New Canaan Food Pantry throughout the summer, Downs-Angus said.
In the five weeks leading up to the big collection day, White collected bags from Walter Stewarts Market and Food Emporium, helped put labels on the bags indicating the food pantrys needs and handed out several hundred bags to residents to fill with groceries. The pantry needs laundry detergent, canned meats and vegetables, pasta sauce, juice boxes, canned fruits and crackers. He does not need much boxed pasta because a lot of that has already been donated.
It hasnt been difficult, but it is time-consuming, White said. Its also time well spent, he said.
If you are unable to leave food items at your mailbox for pickup, you can take them to the New Canaan LDS Church at 682 South Ave., from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Will you contribute to the Stamp Out Hunger food drive? Let us know by leaving a comment below. You can also visit our Facebook page.
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