BRISTOL — There is a lot more food on the shelves at the Have A Heart Food Shelf in Bristol thanks to the 10th annual Fill the Firehouse food drive 5 town firefighters organized and carried out on Oct. 28.
“The food drive was a great success,” said food shelf Director Rebecca Stude. “We took in over 5,650 pounds and $1,300.   All towns but one brought in more food this year.”
Each firehouse in the five-town area — Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton, New Haven and Starksboro — was open and accepting donations of non-perishable items. There will also be a drop off site in front of Shaw’s in Bristol. The Addison Northeast Teachers Association also joined the food drive.
The Food Drive began as a way to honor the father of firefighter Mark Bouvier, who was a prisoner of war in World War II and knew what it was like to be hungry. He felt that no one in America should go hungry, and so the food drive began.
In its first year, 2007, Bristol firefighters collected 3,000 pounds of food and cash donations. Last year the collection, which included the five towns, was 4,630 pounds and $1,571.
The HAHFS currently serves more than 60 families a month. The need is always greater in the winter months. During the Holidays that number will increase to 100, and HAHFS has come to heavily rely on this food drive. It will fill the shelves and keep the food shelf running through the holidays and the winter months.