United Way Conducting 12-Hour Food-a-Thon to Reduce Childhood Summer Hunger

Nearly 1 in 5 children (or 18.5%) in New London County are food insecure. That means they don’t know when or where their next meal will come from. During the summer, even more children will be facing hunger because when school lunches end, lunch ends altogether. And as the demand for food increases, donations to food banks tend to drop in the summertime.

You have an opportunity to help! On Thursday, July 27 United Way of Southeastern Connecticut will be conducting a communitywide “food-a-thon” to reduce summer hunger for our community’s kids. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. donations of nonperishable items are being collected at the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center in New London, a program operated by United Way.

Businesses, organizations, civic groups, and groups of all kinds are encouraged to run a food drive in the weeks leading up the food-a-thon. Then, collected items can be delivered right to the Food Center on July 27. Individuals may bring their own donations of nonperishables as well. Learn more and download a promotion flyer for your drive at: www.uwsect.org/endsummerhunger.

The following items are most in need at the Food Center right now: macaroni and cheese, pasta, canned tuna, canned soup, and Ensure. Please do not donate items in glass containers or that have expired.

Last year the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center provided the equivalent of more than 1.9 million meals and snacks to those facing hunger through 85 member programs. United Way’s Mobile Food Pantry distributed the equivalent of 285,383 meals through ten monthly distributions throughout the community. All this is done at no cost to those in need.

When you feed a hungry child, you change their life for the better right now and in the future. Let’s join together as a community and eliminate a long, hot, and hungry summer for our children.

Donate nonperishable food items at the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center on Thursday, July 27 from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. The Food Center is located at 374 Broad Street in New London.

About the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center
Since 1988, the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center, a program of United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, has played a key role in providing one of the building blocks to a good quality of life by feeding food insecure individuals and families all across community. The Food Center provides food and household items to 85 free emergency food programs throughout New London County including shelters, food pantries, after-school programs, day care centers, community meal sites, and programs for the elderly.

The Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center is an official Partner Distribution Organization (PDO) with the Connecticut Food Bank in East Haven, the largest food bank in the state. To learn more visit www.uwsect.org/food-center.