Thanks to the incredible dedication of 40 volunteers from “Refill the Pantry,” a collaboration of local churches, and the Columbia Alumni Club of Fairfield County, their food drive held last Saturday at the Stop & Shop on Kings Hwy for Operation Hope’s Pantry was a remarkable success.

The two groups collaborated to collect an impressive 3,400 pounds of food. They also raised $1,400, providing vital support for families facing food insecurity in our community.

This event marked a milestone in the “Refill the Pantry” mission:

• Most volunteers ever at a single collection
• Second largest food donation in their 4 year history
• Third largest financial contribution out of their 26 total collections

For context, in 2023, it held two collections for Operation Hope totaling 3,540 pounds. “Refill the Pantry” is excited to announce it’ll be returning for a second collection for Operation Hope on September 20, and it is aiming even higher!

The “Refill the Pantry” program is profoundly grateful for the steadfast support of its sponsoring congregations: First Presbyterian (Fairfield), Our Saviour’s Lutheran (Fairfield), Grace Lutheran (Stratford), and Good Shepherd Lutheran (Monroe). Their continued dedication, generosity and faith have been the heart of this mission, empowering the program to care for those facing hunger with love and dignity.

A heartfelt thanks also to the many Fairfield congregations whose contributions made an extraordinary impact. Whether by providing volunteers, organizing in-house food drives or delivering donations directly to Operation Hope, their partnership truly brought the “Refill the Pantry” mission to life. Special appreciation goes to Black Rock Church, City Coast Church, Or Hadash, Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, and Trinity Episcopal Church for their remarkable commitment to this shared calling.

We are deeply grateful for the help filling our pantry shelves from all of these groups. Summer is a tough time for our clients, as our pantry donations wane during the slower months. Yet, we still need to feed our families and individuals. The donations collected last Saturday will help sustain our neighbors in need in the near term. Thank you to all the volunteers, donors and Stop & Shop!