The free food truck will be helping hungry people at a new location in town, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church.
The truck’s first visit to St. Andrew’s was scheduled for last Friday, Feb. 14, but was cancelled because of the snow storm.
It has been rescheduled to this Friday, Feb. 21, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the church, 6 Ivy Hill Road, between the intersection of Branchville Road and Prospect Ridge, near the Wintergarden ice skating center.
The Connecticut Food Bank Mobile Pantry, as the truck is called, has been visiting Ridgefield and distributing food once a month from a location off Halpin Lane since the end of 2012.
“With each visit, it has been meeting the needs of dozens of local residents living with food insecurity. The truck always brings fresh produce, proteins, bread, and more,” said town Social Services Director Tony Phillips.
The first delivery in 2012 provided food to about 30 residents, Mr. Phillips said. This year, more than 100 people got food in January’s visit to Ridgefield, and the total was over 200 in December.
At a recent meeting on the town budget, First Selectman Rudy Marconi told other selectmen about seeing 100 or 150 people lined up for the food truck.
“It opens your eyes,” he said.
Food assistance is also available to Ridgefield residents in need from the Ridgefield Food Pantry at the Social Service Department in town hall, weekdays from 8:30 to 4:30.
The increased usage of the food truck brought an increase in car traffic that Mr. Phillips said overwhelmed the previous site at the Halpin Court Apartments parking lot.
“The church stands out as a great partner, as they have a wonderful site that is central to downtown — but just off the main path — with plenty of parking, and feeding the hungry fits their mission perfectly,” said Mr. Phillips.
“We do want to also recognize that both the Halpin Court and Prospect Ridge residents and management have been very generous by allowing the truck and its recipients access to their parking lots over the last year,” he added.
“Through their generosity the truck was able to help feed thousands of people over the last year.”
Several agencies in addition to the church offered to be host sites, Mr. Phillips said.
The food truck’s monthly visits are sponsored by an anonymous local donor and managed by a crew of about 10 volunteers, headed by volunteer coordinator Sharon Lavatori.
The food pantry at town hall receives donations from many sources, but the most regular contributor is Sunrise Rotary, which organizes regular food drives. Sunrise Rotary also supports monthly “pop-up food pantries” run by Ridgefield Social Services at such locations as Ballard Green or St. Stephen’s Church.
“This community is not short on amazing people and organizations who are willing to give of themselves to help others,” Mr. Phillips said.
Questions about accessing help or volunteering with the Connecticut Food Bank Mobile Pantry may be forwarded to the Social Services Department at 203-431-2777.