MIDDLETOWN —I can’t believe Thanksgiving is just a little over a month away.
Here at Middlesex United Way, we are part of the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project, established to ensure that all Middletown families who couldn’t afford to purchase a Thanksgiving meal could still enjoy a holiday feast, and we’re gearing up to assemble 1,000 Thanksgiving baskets for local families and individuals in need.
Registration begins Oct. 28 for Middletown families to apply for a basket of Thanksgiving food. Registration will take place Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. at Amazing Grace Food Pantry, 16 Stack St. Registration will be open until Nov. 22.
Those who wish to register must provide proof of Middletown residence, as well as identification for each family member. Acceptable proofs of residence are a utility bill, driver’s license or state identification, lease agreement or rental receipts. Forms of identification are a driver’s license, birth certificate, medical card, social security card, or Department of Social Services or housing listing.
Baskets will be available for pick up Nov. 26 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Fellowship Church, 1002 Saybrook Road. Free transportation will be available from the Middletown Transit Station to Fellowship Church, leaving the transit station every half-hour.
This project is supported by many generous local businesses, nonprofit organizations, faith communities, civic groups and individuals. Middlesex United Way is proud to be a partner in this incredible group, along with many others.
The planning committee for the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project includes representatives from the city of Middletown, Cross Street AME Zion Church, Knights of Valhalla, Fellowship Church, Liberty Bank, Liberty Bank Foundation, Middlesex Health, Middlesex United Way, Middletown Kiwanis Club, Middletown Police Department, Middletown Public Schools, Middletown Rotary Club, St. Vincent DePaul Middletown/Amazing Grace Food Pantry and Wesleyan University.
Monetary donations are being accepted to purchase necessary food and nonfood items essential to this effort. If you wish to contribute, checks can be made out to “Rotary-MCTP” with MCTP in the memo line and sent in care of Fellowship Church, 1002 Saybrook Road, Middletown, CT 06457.
We also encourage you to join our Young Leaders at their annual Fill-a-Bus Food Drives, where they will be collecting nonperishables to support the project. You can find this energetic group of young volunteers at Stop & Shop in Middletown Nov. 16 and 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The first shift runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m., with the second shift running from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can help by stopping by the store and donating an item or signing up to volunteer. You can learn more about volunteering by contacting Amanda Furlong at Amanda.Furlong@middlesexunitedway.org or 860-346-8695.
A list of items needed will be available at the store during the collection times. Suggested items include stuffing, sweet potatoes, gravy, corn and green beans.
For information about volunteering or contributing a donation, contact Lara SantaMaria at Fellowship Church at 860-346-1181 or MCTP2013@yahoo.com.
Kevin Wilhelm is president and CEO of the Middlesex United Way in Middletown.
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