BRISTOL — Fall has “officially” arrived and winter won’t be far behind and with it the struggles that many of our neighbors have in meeting the additional costs associated with cold weather.
With that in mind, the second annual 5-Town Fire Department Food Drive is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon.
In 2015, the drive collected over 5,000 pounds of food and $700 in cash donations.
Becky Price, director of the Have-A-Heart Food Shelf in Bristol, said the collective efforts of all those involved in the food drive are very important.
“The Have a Heart Food Shelf has come to rely heavily upon the Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton, New Haven and Starksboro fire department’s annual October food drive,” Price said. The Food Shelf serves over 65 families monthly from the five-town region.
Supplies at the food shelf are currently very low, Price said. This annual food drive will fill the shelves and get the organization through the winter, when demand usually increases. Price offered this list of suggested donations:
•  Spaghetti sauce, veggies, soup, tuna, fruit, beans, peanut butter, cereal, rice, macaroni and cheese, juice, pasta.
•  Toilet paper, deodorant, toothpaste and brushes, bar soap, laundry soap, shampoo and conditioner (items not covered by food stamps).
•  Holiday items: canned pumpkin, stuffing mix, cranberries, evaporated milk, turkey gravy, pie crust.
“We are very grateful to the firefighters for their service to our community and for this annual food drive,” Price said.