Nine Shoreline Fire Departments Team Up for Food Drive

Nine shoreline fire departments will host a major food drive on Saturday, April 27 to collect much-needed food items for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries.

Please note that the fire departments can only collect non-perishable food items for this event and cannot accept cash donations or perishable food such as fresh vegetables or meats. 

The event will be held from 9am to 1pm at the following fire stations: Clinton, Old Saybrook, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Niantic, Old Lyme (Lyme Street Station), East Lyme and Westbrook.

“The need remains great to help the Shoreline Soup Kitchen replenish pantries and provide food to those who rely on its services to help make ends meet,” said Max Sabrin, Food Drive Coordinator and Old Saybrook Fire Department spokesperson. "In the past, the shoreline community has always been extra generous, and we hope residents and businesses will turn out to help those in need,” he said.

Sabrin thanked the owners and management of the ShopRite supermarket in Clinton for kicking off the OSFD food drive by donating a “starter package” of six bags stuffed with non-perishable food items for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries.

The Shoreline-based Soup Kitchens & Pantries is seeing an increase of people seeking food assistance. In the first quarter of this year, pantry distributions rose 18 percent across its 11-town coverage area including Essex, Chester, Clinton, Madison, Old Saybrook, East Lyme, Lyme, Old Lyme, Killingworth, Westbrook and Deep River. With the holiday season over, food donations are typically lower, making it more difficult to provide services.

Among the critical non-perishable foods needed: soups, tuna, meals-in-a-can, juice, canned fruit, white rice/pasta, breakfast cereals, peanut butter and Spam.

Those donating non-perishable food are reminded that firefighters cannot collect cash or non-food items during the Saturday, April 27 event.

For more information, including fire station locations or to volunteer please visit www.shorelinesoupkitchens.org