HARTFORD, Conn. - With Thanksgiving around the corner, scores of communities are banding together this weekend to make sure Foodshare can provide turkeys for Connecticut families in need.
It's a tall order, with nearly 20,000 people asking for Foodshare's help and the cost of a meal up about 13 percent. That's where the "Turkey and a Twenty" campaign comes in. At many supermarkets and other locations this weekend, people are being asked to donate a turkey and $20.
Paul Fraleigh, who is organizing a townwide drive in Glastonbury, says the need is great this year.
"We're seeing a lot more 'have-nots' every other Wednesday behind the church. We're seeing people coming in with new-model cars that you know have lost their job and they're only one paycheck away from relying on food pantries."
Sarah Santora, who coordinates community efforts for Foodshare, says the need is even greater this year because of the recent storm and power outages that caused local families, donors and food pantries to lose food.
"A lot of good product that we rely on from the retailers had to be discarded, just like regular people had to throw out stuff in their fridge."
The storms, the poor economy and increased costs have Foodshare facing a deficit for the first time in the organization's history, which they hope can be erased this weekend. In addition to the turkeys, Foodshare is hoping to raise $800,000.
Information on drive locations this weekend is online at foodshare.org.
