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Kate Lombardo recalls the hardships her family endured when she was a child. "I know what it's like to be poor and not have enough food," she says. Today Lombardo is the director of the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, helping others cope with similar difficulties. This Thanksgiving she hopes to give away as many as 8,000 turkeys.
"There is what I call the 'emerging poor' in our community who are experiencing poverty for the first time," she says. "People who have lost their Wall Street jobs, spent their 401K money, facing foreclosure and run out of unemployment."
To cover the growing demand in the six towns it serves -- Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan and Wilton -- the Food Bank needs more financial assistance and more donated food.
"Last year, we gave out 7,000 turkeys, which means about 7,000 families had a Thanksgiving dinner. This year we will probably need as many as 8,000 or more," she says.
The Food Bank receives food from corporations, schools, non-profits and individuals. It also receives cash donations with which it buys food wholesale for its warehouse on Glenbrook Avenue in Stamford. Agencies and organizations go to the warehouse to "shop" for the things they need to help their clients.
Last year, the owners of the Shop Rite food store chain donated 1,000 frozen turkeys.
Everyone in the area is encouraged to donate. For more information go to the Food Bank's website www.foodbanklfc.org.
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