Blog - Operation Hope of Fairfield

Local Student Spreads Valentine’s Kindness

Feb 13, 2024

Happy

Day! Local student Mia made beautiful valentines once again this year to gift to our Community Kitchen guests who join us for lunch and dinner on Wednesday, February 14

Mia first learned about Operation Hope last year when her Girl Scout troop helped with a food drive. She enjoys helping people, and knows spreading kindness and being nice makes people feel good

We are grateful for our littlest helpers and knowing that people like Mia are here sharing kindness and joy in our community, we are in good hands. Thank you, Mia!

Presidents’ Day Closure

Feb 13, 2024

Operation Hope’s Presidents’ Day closures are:

– Business office & Pantry (636 Old Post Road) closed Monday, February 19, 2024 (donations are not accepted during business closures)

– Community Kitchen (50 Nichols Street) closed Monday, February 19, 2024

– Business office and Community Kitchen re-open February 20, Pantry reopens February 21

Thanks to Assumption Church for Another Amazing Souper Bowl!

Feb 11, 2024

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

Whether you’re Team 49ers, Team Chiefs or Team Swift, we can all agree that we need to tackle hunger for those in need in our community

The team of incredible volunteers are here at the Annual Our Lady of Assumption Souper Bowl of Caring Food Drive until 1pm! Help fill the van for local pantries, including Operation Hope

Most needed items include: canned meats, cereal, oatmeal, ground coffee, brown rice, sugar, oil, pasta sauce, nuts, dried fruit, lotion and toilet paper. Regular sized, not bulk items, are appreciated.

Thanks to Assumption Church, all donors and all volunteers for helping our neighbors in need

Thanking Everyday Hero Lauren Caiati

Feb 6, 2024

Here at Operation Hope of Fairfield, we are deeply fortunate to have many helping hands advance our mission of ending hunger and homelessness in our community. One set of those helping hands belongs to Fairfield resident Lauren Caiati. Lauren has been a volunteer with Operation Hope for many years, as have her daughters. When we had an immediate need to fill the scheduling of the dinners for our Community Kitchen, Lauren jumped in and kept the meals coming for many months, and especially during the pandemic. Our Community Kitchen guests were fed and cared for during one of the most challenging times in recent history, and Lauren had a big role in making that happen. She has also served as a volunteer contact for many organizations who’ve helped us during the pandemic. Lauren jumps in when needed and without question. Her dedication as a volunteer is unparalleled and we will be forever grateful to her for getting us through some of the darker times we faced together as a community. Thank you, Lauren!

We’ve Been Struck by Cupid’s Arrow💘

Feb 5, 2024

Carole Canzoneri and her group of sweet volunteers are at it again! This time, we’ve been struck by Cupid’s arrow for Valentine’s Day Thanks to Carole and team for once again spearheading the Have A Heart Valentine’s Day Project This lovely group is donating over 100 gift bags to benefit various local non profits, including Operation Hope. Each bag features some festive Valentine’s Day treats, stickers and small toys. Some of our Food Pantry clients with young children will receive these treat bags. Thank you to Carole + friends who generously donated all of the items to fill the bags. We are grateful for your big hearts

Donate to Fill our Pantry Shelves in February

Feb 5, 2024

The winter is typically a low season for food pantry donations. If you’re stocking up on your pantry basics, please take a moment to help our neighbors in need. Our most pressing needs are cash, checks and grocery store gifts cards, which allow us to purchase fresh produce, dairy and meat for our clients.

Regular sized items (not bulk) appreciated. Drop off at our pantry M-F, 9am-4:30pm 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)

– Ground coffee & tea

– Canned stew & chowder

– Canned meat (chicken, SPAM, etc.)

– Nuts & dried fruit

– Juice (not juice boxes)

– Sizes 5 & 6 diapers

– Pasta sauce

– Sugar

– Oil

– Cereal & oatmeal

– Lotion

– Toilet paper

Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County Members Fill Pantry Freezers with Prepared Meals

Jan 30, 2024

Thank you to the members of the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County for spending their time and efforts to make prepared meals to stash in our Food Pantry freezers. Having prepared meals for our clients to pick up is so appreciated. Nothing better than coming home, popping in a meal in the oven while settling in after a long day and then sitting down together to enjoy a delicious, filling and homemade meal. We are grateful for the Junior League’s continued support of our neighbors in need 🥘❤️

Give the Gift of Home this Winter Season 🏡

Jan 29, 2024

Everyone deserves a place to call home. Give the gift of home this winter season.

Home is hope.
A safe haven and a comfort zone.
A place to plan a future and to build memories.
A place where we are welcome and can welcome others.
A place where we can truly be ourselves.

As we continue our march through the winter season, we are reminded that homelessness and hunger are the devastating results of many complex events and circumstances. These problems can seem overwhelming. But together, we can make a difference and create positive change.

Give the gift of home this winter season. Thank you. We appreciate your support – today and always.

NCL Class of 2028 Makes Freezer Meals for Pantry

Jan 26, 2024

Thanks to National Charity League Inc-Fairfield CT Chapter Class of 2028 for spending some time together to help our neighbors in need. The girls gathered to make trays of lasagna for our Food Pantry’s freezers. Ready to bake freezer meals provide a complete, nutritious meal for individuals and families struggling to put food on the table. Our clients are always grateful for these meals at the end of a long day, and for that, we are grateful for community partners such as NCL Fairfield

Operation Hope Receives 2023 First County Bank CommunityFirst Grant

Jan 24, 2024

We are honored to have been selected as a 2023 recipient of First County Bank Foundation’s annual CommunityFirst Grant Program. The $5,000 grant will be used for our Supportive Affordable Housing Program. Our affordable housing provides clean and safe permanent rental housing for previously homeless families and individuals. The combination of affordable rent and support services helps our tenants to remain in housing and achieve their ongoing goals. This grant is incredibly important to our clients. Thank you to First County Bank and First County Bank Foundation for striving to make a difference in the communities that it serves, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to local charitable needs.

Established in 2001 in honor of the Bank’s 150th anniversary, First County Bank Foundation was created to distribute funds annually to nonprofit organizations that support community and economic development, affordable housing, and programs that support educational enrichment for children and families. As a mutual bank with no shareholders, First County Bank considers grants made by the foundation a means of paying dividends back to the local communities it serves.

Recent Posts

STAY IN TOUCH