New Milford, Conn. (October 12, 2020) — United Way of Western Connecticut is partnering with the Woman’s Club of Greater New Milford to collect food and monetary donations to make Thanksgiving a joyful holiday for families who are struggling this year to pay their bills and put food on their tables.
Operation Thanksgiving (formerly called Stuff the Gazebo) collects food and monetary donations so that financially struggling families can have all the ingredients for a complete Thanksgiving meal, including a turkey.
Operation Thanksgiving will include a drop-off food collection day at the New Milford Bandstand on November 7 from 10 am to 3 pm. Food items being collected are listed below. Monetary donations are also being accepted on November 7, in the form of cash or checks made out to the Woman’s Club of Greater New Milford. Checks can also be mailed to: Woman’s Club of Greater New Milford, P.O. Box 225, New Milford, CT 06776.
Katy Francis, Community Impact Coordinator for United Way of Western Connecticut in New Milford said she is anticipating the need will be great this year, because of the financial effects of the pandemic. She says that approximately 250 families will benefit from this event.
“With many parents out of work, and children at home more days of the week, family food budgets are stretched to their limits,” said Ms. Francis. “This event brings the Greater New Milford community together to make sure those who are having a tough time this year are able to still have a good Thanksgiving with their families.”
See the list below for a list of food items being collected. For more information, or to make a donation, contact Katy Francis at katy.francis@uwwesternct.org or 860-354-8800
Collection date and location
Saturday, November 7, 2020 – 10 am to 3 pm
The Bandstand on the New Milford Green, Main St., New Milford, CT 06776
Collection of non-perishable food and monetary donations
For more information, or to find out how to make a donation, contact Katy Francis at katy.francis@uwwesternct.org or call 860-354-8800
Non-perishable food items to be collected:
- Pie Crust Mix*
- Canned Pie Filling*
- Canned Yams*
- Cranberry Sauce*
- Cream Soups*
- Canned/Jarred Gravy
- Stuffing Mix
- Boxed Mashed Potatoes
- Canned Veggies
* Most needed
Last year’s Thanksgiving food donation drive collected enough food for more than 200 greater New Milford families to have a full meal on Thanksgiving day. The need is anticipated to be greater this year, as many families lost jobs or wages during the pandemic, and many families’ food budgets have been stretched by having children at home more days of the week.