Let Trinity Solar Help You Control Rising Utility Costs

The news is out…utility bills will be increasing again in September. Let our friends at Trinity Solar help you understand these increases and find out if solar is a good option for your home. It really is that simple…1 hour of your time can make a big difference…for you and for our neighbors in need.
 
For your 1 hour consultation, Operation Hope will receive a contribution of $100 and, if Trinity Solar can help YOU go solar, saving you save money and giving you control of these increases…Operation Hope receives a contribution of $1,000 to support our community. Click here and sign up today to meet with a Trinity Solar rep. The sun is on your side, harness its power!

August Community Pet Food Pantry Stops at Operation Hope

The Community Pet Pantry is August 29, 1-2:30pm at Operation Hope in the parking lot behind the building (access via Beach Road). Appointments are required, please call 860-594-4500 x6308 to schedule your pick up. Open to residents of Fairfield County. The food is provided at no charge to community members in need of support so that pets in homes can stay with the families that they already love so much. All of the pet food provided has come to the Connecticut Humane Society by way of generous donations. We are grateful for the CHS’s support of our neighbors in need, especially our four-legged friends!

Operation Hope Awarded First County Bank Community Grant

Thank you to First County Bank for including Operation Hope in its community grant program. We were just recognized 2024 as a recipient of First County Bank Foundation’s Annual CommunityFirst Grant Program. We are grateful for its support of our efforts to end hunger and homelessness 🙏🏽

Seeking Donations for Operation Hope’s Pantry

We’re looking for a little help from you to refill our pantry! Our most pressing needs are cash, checks and grocery store gifts cards, which allow us to purchase fresh produce, dairy and meat for our neighbors in need.
 
Regular sized items (not bulk) appreciated. Drop off at our pantry M-Th, 9am-4:30pm and F, 9am-1pm at 636 Old Post Road; there’s a drop off area to the left of the building. Please ring the bell and someone will greet you. Please do not leave donations unattended and when the office is closed. Monetary donations are always welcome so we can purchase exactly what we need for our clients, donate here. Or, feel free to purchase from our Amazon wish list here and your donation will be shipped directly to the pantry. Thank you!
 
– CASH, CHECKS, GROCERY STORE GIFT CARDS (to buy perishables)
– Popcorn
– Dried potatoes
– Canned fruit
– Coffee (regular, instant & decaf)
– Sugar
– Cooking oil
– Bladder pads
– Cleaning supplies
– Shampoo
– Lotion
– Dish soap
– Paper towels

Annual Town-Wide Tag Sale a Huge Success!

Our Annual Town-Wide Tag Sale just took place on Saturday, August 3. It was a beautiful day for selling treasures to help raise funds for Operation Hope! We’d like to extend our deepest thanks to our Tag Sale Chair Trudi Durrell, our 19 Tag Sale hosts, the many shoppers, Board members, volunteers and staff for joining forces to make everything come together beautifully. The Tag Sale helps sustain our neighbors in need and our operations throughout the year, so we are always grateful for the help.

19 Tag Sales were scattered around Fairfield and Southport, featuring toys, clothing, books, art, furniture, housewares, exercise equipment, vintage and more. It was a great opportunity to reduce, recycle and reuse – for a good cause. Thank you to our hosts for graciously opening their homes and hearts to help our neighbors in need.

Thank you to our shoppers from all over! It was fun seeing you discover treasures at the different sales.

Tag Sale Chair and longtime Operation Hope volunteer and supporter, Trudi Durrell is a champ! Nothing succeeds naturally without someone working on it, and under Trudi’s leadership, every detail was attended to impeccably. We are grateful for Trudi’s commitment, time and talent to run the Tag Sale.

We wish you a happy rest of your summer and stay tuned for announcements for some fun upcoming events to help our neighbors in need!

Town-Wide Tag Sale to Benefit Operation Hope Is TODAY!

Operation Hope of Fairfield is excited to host its Town-Wide Tag Sale TODAY, Saturday, August 3, 9:00am-3:00pm, rain or shine! A great opportunity to seek treasures while helping us continue to end hunger and end homelessness, one person at a time. The Town-Wide Tag Sale features 19 homes (subject to change) in Fairfield and Southport. We are grateful to our friends for hosting Tag Sales and for opening their homes and hearts to help our neighbors in need.

NO EARLY BIRDS, please! An early bird is a person who shows up well before the advertised time of the sale. For the sake of our generous hosts, please do not arrive to the sale before the posted time.

Click HERE for a downloadable list of Tag Sale site addresses, featured items and hours of operation.

Click HERE an interactive Google map. You do not have to follow the path detailed in this map; it is simply provided to help you plan your day visiting the Tag Sale sites.

Thanks to Friends for Collaborating on Community Kitchen Dinner

When we announced in June that our Community Kitchen was in dire need of volunteers to provide dinner (or dinner components) for dates this summer, we were fortunate that our call was answered. We still have a few dates open, so stay tuned for that info coming next week!

In addition to the individuals who signed up to help cover summer meals, we also had a few groups of friends raise their hands to help. In particular was a group of friends who met when their children were in elementary school and this is the second summer where they collaborated to provide a meal. While it’s fun to make a meal together, sometimes the reality of that happening is impossible. Trays of chicken parmesan, a tray of seasoned green beans, a huge salad with all the fixings, homemade cookies and lemonade made up the meal to serve 50 people on July 11. Thanks so much to Tracey Altieri, Heather Arabadjis, Liz Chatel (and special helpers!), Carla & Mike Patrona and Sonal Rajan for making a delicious meal for our Community Kitchen. Who needs a salad spinner when you have special helpers drying lettuce leaf by leaf? We share this story because it is so much easier to make a meal or part of a meal when coordinating with friends. If you’re interested in doing so, please email us at [email protected]. We will respond with further details and answer any of your questions. We serve lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday, throughout the year at the Community Kitchen. All of these meals are donated. We are always in need of meals, and unfortunately the number of guests who dine with us continues to rise. Thank you for helping feed our neighbors in need!

Maplewood at Southport Residents Prepare Bagged Lunches for Neighbors in Need

We are incredibly grateful to the residents of Maplewood at Southport for preparing bagged lunches for our neighbors in need last week. These bagged lunches are distributed to guests who come for dinner at the Community Kitchen on Fridays so they can take them home to have over the weekend. Our outreach team also distributes the bagged lunches while out on rounds. Bagged lunches include a sandwich, a piece of fruit, a bottle of water and perhaps a bag of chips, sweet treat or granola bar.

What seems like something so simple has a ripple effect, and is not just helping those in need in our community. Maplewood Senior Living is dedicated to helping residents live full and rewarding lives. Volunteering offers a multitude of benefits that enhance overall well-being, fostering a sense of purpose and fulfillment that is crucial during the retirement years. This recent partnership with Operation Hope exemplifies how residents can continue to make a difference in their communities while also boosting their own mental and emotional well-being. By participating in activities such as preparing bagged lunches, residents not only contribute meaningfully to their community but also maintain cognitive function and physical health through active engagement. This effort reflects Maplewood’s commitment to providing opportunities for socialization, connection and personal growth.

CT Extreme Hot Weather Protocol Activated

Beat the heat and try to stay cool! 🥵 Due to forecasted high temperatures, Governor Ned Lamont has activated Connecticut’s Extreme Hot Weather Protocol from 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 14th, 2024, to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17th, 2024. This activation, the third this year, responds to expected temperatures in the 90s and potentially above 100 degrees—the first occurrence of such heat in June since 1964. Anyone in need of a place to get out of the heat can locate their nearest cooling center by calling 2-1-1 or viewing the list that is being published online at 211ct.org

Month-Long Drive Helps Address Summer Slump in Pantry Donations

Many thanks to State Senator Tony Hwang and the Fairfield & Southport orgs serving as drop off points for a month-long drive to help stock our Pantry. The summer tends to be a slower time for donations which makes it challenging to feed and care for our neighbors in need. We are grateful for any extra help you can give! This article in CT Insider highlights our need and the drive. 
 
Most needed Pantry items (regular size, not bulk, appreciated): dried fruit & nuts, sugar, flour, oil, bottled juice, canned chili & stew, canned fruit, boxed milk, dry cat food, lotion, toothpaste, bladder pads, flushable wipes, toilet paper, & paper towels.
 
Drop off locations: Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, Black Rock Church, Fairfield Public Library – Connecticut (Main & Woods branch), Fairfield YMCA, Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, Or Hadash, Pequot Library, St. Pius X Catholic Church, Southport Congregational Church, and Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Southport.

OFFICE & FOOD PANTRY


636 Old Post Road

Fairfield, CT 06824
203-292-5588
[email protected]

OFFICE & DONATION HOURS

Monday-Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm (donations accepted until 4:30pm)
Please do not leave donations unattended at the door or when the office is closed.

PANTRY HOURS

  • Monday, Wednesday & Friday:
    10:00am - 12:00pm
  • Thursday: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

OUTREACH & COMMUNITY KITCHEN

50 Nichols Street
Fairfield, CT
 06824
203-254-2935

COMMUNITY KITCHEN HOURS

Meals served Monday - Friday:

  • Lunch: 11:30am - 1:00pm
  • Dinner: 5:00pm - 6:30pm

GET HELP IMMEDIATELY: If you are homeless or hungry in Fairfield County dial 211 24/7

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