Printer Friendly Version - ACES Food Drive Benefits East Haven Food Pantry

From left , Branford Public School student and community service volunteer Fiona Cavallaro, ACES ACCESS employment specialist Maureen Cavallaro, and Town Fair Tire Director of Special Projects David Litvinoff display the foods collected during the ACES ACCESS July food drive. Photo courtesy of ACES

ACES Adult Career & Community Empowerment Support Services (ACCESS), a program for adults with developmental and physical disabilities run by Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES), collected more than 1,700 food items to support individuals in need. Donations from the July food drive were given to the East Haven Food Pantry as well as to ACES ACCESS program participants. The ACES ACCESS Food Drive had set a goal of 700 items, double the amount collected during its first COVID-19 pandemic response food drive in April.

Thanks to the generosity of ACES current and former staff, Town Fair Tire, ACES Business Advisory Council, and ACES ACCESS program participants and staff members, the food drive far surpassed the original goal. ACES ACCESS is grateful to local businesses who supported the food drive: Town Fair Tire, Jennifer’s Ice Cream in East Haven, Genaro’s Restaurant and Cheri’s Bakery in Branford, Mangia Pizza in North Haven, and Strong Kitchen in Hamden.

“The East Haven Food Pantry sees between 50 to 60 families per day and distributes about 10,000 meals per month. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen an increase in the number of people who rely on the pantry. The ACES ACCESS food drive donations will help us help many people in need. We’re most appreciative of ACES ACCESS support and contributions,” said East Haven Food Pantry President Dianne Romans.

In addition to donating to the East Haven Food Pantry, the July food drive provided meals to ACES ACCESS program participants in need. This is the second food drive run by ACES ACCESS. The food drives were spearheaded by ACES ACCESS staff, namely Job Coach John Torello with support from Marie Washburn, Maureen Cavallaro, and many members of the ACES ACCESS team. Both food drives were in response to food insecurity and hardship experienced in the community due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2019, ACES ACCESS ran a Warm Hands Warm Hearts drive that collected hats, gloves, socks and toiletries for those in need. Spearheaded by Rachael Rubino, an ACES ACCESS Job Coach, donations from this drive went to the Columbus House in New Haven. Additional food and clothing drives will be planned for the coming year and will benefit organizations in the greater New Haven area.