Donationsneededafter Westport's Homes With Hope had first empty pantry

Aug. 15—"We're very grateful to the Westport community and the entire community from Fairfield County that supports Homes with Hope," she said.

McAlinden said sometimes their pantry can get low, but this time it was entirely depleted due to the uptick in Fairfield County residents coming to them with food insecurity, which she said can be attributed to the high cost of groceries.

The empty pantry underlined the organization's constant need for food and monetary donations to continue to serve people in need in Fairfield County.

In 2022 alone, Homes with Hope reported serving 841 individuals or households. More than 400 households received groceries through the food pantry.

Homes with Hope has also added toiletries to its pantry, such as soap, toilet paper and shampoo, which are not able to be bought with food stamps, McAlinden said. During the pandemic, staff members learned these necessities were difficult for people to buy, so they stocked up on it for their clients.

Due to this increased need, Homes with Hope, the Westport Rotary, Sunrise Rotary, Westport Police Department and Saugatuck Rowing Club hosted an additional summer food drive at Stop & Shop on July 29, about three weeks after the pantry depleted its stock.

McAlinden said the shelves were stocked again after that and more than $1,100 was presented to the pantry on Aug. 11 from what the groups raised at the drive.

McAlinden said they also had to dip into their discretionary funds, which is made up of donations, to replenish the depleted pantry.

—

Moving a cottage in Westport historic district may save the home

—

Westport Pride begins inclusivity campaign with welcome stickers

She said food pantries typically use the help of Connecticut Food Share, but Homes with Hope does not need to thanks Westport residents' generosity.

"We're blessed to have a very generous, local community that supports us," she said.

She said HWH wants Connecticut Food Bank to focus on inner city areas or areas that do not have as many community donations as Westport.

Many of Homes With Hope's clients are single mothers with multiple children, oftentimes working minimum wage jobs, McAlinden said. Combining the high cost of rent with the high cost of groceries on a fixed income leads to an increase in food insecurity. Data shows must earn $40 an hour to afford a studio apartment in lower Fairfield County, she added.

McAlinden said the summer also hosts one of the pantry's larger food drives, with the help of the United States Postal Service. Every residential mailbox receives bags that people can fill up with unused groceries. The mail carriers then collect the bags and drop them off to HWH, which she said helps them all summer.

In the fall, Sacred Heart University students will help renovate Homes With Hope's Gillespie Center, using input from a survey Homes With Hope gave about four months ago to its clients, staff and other local organizations about what else is needed.

McAlinden said they saw many people wanted refrigerated items, toiletries and to pick their own groceries. So, some of the renovations will help with that.

Planned renovations include adding refrigerators so they can give out items, such as milk and eggs, adding a separate entrance directly to the pantry and creating sections for multiple different allergies or food restrictions.

On Oct. 14, Homes with Hope is hosting a fundraiser comedy night called "Stand Up for Homes with Hope" with comedian Roy Wood, Jr., at the Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University. McAlinden said they are looking for sponsors, and those interested can call her at 475-225-5292.

They are also looking for a donated car for one of their clients: a single mother of three whose car broke down and can't be repaired, she said. Those interested can email info@hwhct.org.

McAlinden said nonperishable items are currently best for food donations and they are also looking for volunteers to help out with their community kitchen, which runs every night.

Monetary donations can be made at hwhct.org, and food can be dropped off any day at Homes With Hope's homebase at 59 Myrtle Ave.