Blog - Operation Hope of Fairfield

Looking to Fill January Community Kitchen Dinners

Dec 16, 2025

As the holidays approach, it’s time for us to think about January and feeding our neighbors in need that month. We’re in need of help filling out the JANUARY 2, JANUARY 15 & JANUARY 20 Community Kitchen dinners! We’re looking for these items – proteins, starch & veggie side dishes, salad, dessert & drinks. Homemade or store bought, either is fine! Please consider providing a meal component as often, this is the only meal our guests will eat all day. Thank you so much, we cannot do what we do without you! All info is in the SignUpGenius here.

Happy Hanukkah!

Dec 14, 2025

From our Operation Hope family to you and yours, we hope you are blessed with gifts of love, peace and happiness this Hanukkah and in the coming year. May we all be a source of light for one another 🕎💙🤍🕯

Severe Cold Weather Protocol Activated for December 14-15

Dec 14, 2025

🥶🥶🥶 Governor Ned Lamont yesterday announced that he is activating Connecticut’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol beginning at noon on Sunday, December 14, 2025, and remaining in effect until noon on Monday, December 15, 2025, due to a blast of arctic air that will impact the state, including windchill temperatures during the overnight hours that are expected to be at or below zero. Anyone in need of shelter or a warming center is urged to visit 2-1-1 at https://uwc.211ct.org/get-help/warmingcenters/ or call or call 2-1-1 find your nearest warming center. Transportation can be provided if necessary. Please stay warm and safe!

Our Most Heartfelt Thanks to You this Thanksgiving

Dec 14, 2025

To the many individuals, families & friends, clubs & organizations, businesses, schools & universities, social groups, religious organizations, concerts, Town of Fairfield departments and local politicians, we thank you for your help this past Thanksgiving 🧡 Because of your generous contributions and drives, the Thanksgiving baskets for our Pantry clients were overflowing with goodies, ensuring individuals and families enjoyed a festive feast. Thanks to you, the Thanksgiving meal we served in the Community Kitchen ensured our neighbors in need enjoyed a holiday meal in dignity and with hope, as for many, that was their only meal of the day. Thank you for always opening your hearts to those in need in our community, We are grateful for you this Thanksgiving and through the holiday season.

“Gingerbread Houses for Hope” Help Neighbors in Need this Holiday Season

Dec 11, 2025

Thanks to everyone who purchased a “Gingerbread House for Hope” this season

These sweet treats will help provide funding for services, food and essentials and affordable housing for our neighbors in need. And the biggest thanks to Fairfield resident, Carole Canzoneri, and her merry team of volunteers from “The Great Charity Gingerbread House Project.” These volunteers have baked, assembled, beautifully packaged and donated over 5,000 gingerbread houses for 26 years for various charities, bringing joy and sweet memories to many while helping those most in need in our community. The houses are all baked and assembled in Carole’s home and everything used – the ingredients, candy and wrapping – are all donated by generous people in the community, including a chocolate Elf on the Shelf donated by Marlene & Rich Battista. We are grateful for these volunteers and for all those who supported this fundraiser. Happy holidays!

It’s a Wrap for “Hope for the Holidays!”

Dec 5, 2025

It’s a wrap on our annual gifting program, “Hope for the Holidays!” We are overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity each of you showed in helping to make 2025’s “Hope for the Holidays” a success. We faced an unprecedented level of need this year, and you answered the call. Thank you to all of the individuals, book groups, friend groups, even a bowling group!, youth groups, church groups, synagogues, community groups and families for coming together to make the holidays brighter for 46 families and 84 individuals (2024’s program enabled us to gift 42 families and 66 individuals). We worked with about 115 point people, resulting in double that number for donors.

And once again, we held card making workshops, this time to coincide with the beloved children’s performer, Laurie Berkner Band at SHU Community Theatre on November 22 and at First Church during Winter Whimsy on November 29. Thanks to our friends who stopped by to create cheerful and festive cards to accompany the gift card packages.

Thank you for opening your hearts to brighten the holiday season for our neighbors in need.

Donors dropped off the gift cards earlier this week. The wish lists were matched with all of the donated cards, gift boxes were prepped, gift cards wrapped and then grouped by social worker. All of your donations were delivered to Operation Hope and are now being distributed to our clients.

Our deepest gratitude goes to our two angel volunteers, Meredith McCormack and Sheila Sullivan. Taking the reins of this gifting program for the third year, Meredith and Sheila effortlessly made “Hope for the Holidays” a success, giving hope and joy to our clients in another challenging year. If you’d like to participate in the 2026 program, please contact Meredith and Sheila here to be added to the email list. We welcome new friends! Everyone who donated and volunteered truly made a difference this holiday season and we can’t thank you enough. We wish you and yours the happiest of holiday seasons and a blessed 2026!

Severe Cold Weather Protocol through December 9

Dec 4, 2025

🥶🥶🥶Governor Ned Lamont announced that due to a weather forecast indicating that Connecticut will experience a blast of arctic temperatures averaging 10 to 20 degrees below normal over the next several days, he is directing the state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol to be activated effective at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2025, and remaining in effect through 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. This is the first time this season that the protocol has been activated.

Anyone in need of shelter or a warming center is urged to visit https://uwc.211ct.org/get-help/warmingcenters/ or call 2-1-1 find your nearest warming center. Transportation can be provided if necessary. Please stay warm and safe!

It’s Giving Tuesday!

Dec 2, 2025

It’s Giving Tuesday, a day of global giving! Consider local giving and help us end hunger and homelessness, one person at a time. We continue to see an increase in demand for our services. Any amount helps and you are making a difference. Consider giving here today, thank you

Happy Thanksgiving from Our Family to Yours

Nov 26, 2025

Thanksgiving is a special time to reflect on our blessings, gather with loved ones and express gratitude.

Here at Operation Hope of Fairfield, we are grateful for you. You are the core of our generous and loving community, and without you, we simply cannot do what we do. For over forty years, you have embraced us, stood by our side and supported our efforts to end hunger and end homelessness, one person at a time. And as always, you continue to be here for us during some of the darkest times for all of us.

From the child who empties their piggy bank for us, to the many schools and organizations who host drives, lemonade stands and more on our behalf, to the individuals, families, organizations and restaurants who make meals to feed our guests in the Community Kitchen to all who give us monetary and in kind donations, to those who advocate on our behalf, and to everyone else in between, we are deeply appreciative. To our dedicated and tireless staff, Board Members, volunteers and loyal and new donors, thank you for keeping those most in need in your heart today and every day.

While Thanksgiving is a time for many to celebrate the bounty of the season, for so many here in our community, the holiday is a stark reminder of their struggle with hunger and homelessness. Thank you for sharing your bounty, which helps us provide food, housing and services for our neighbors in need right here in Fairfield, and not just on Thanksgiving, but throughout the year. We wish you and your loved ones a blessed Thanksgiving and a bountiful season of giving thanks 🧡🍽🦃🍁🙏🏽

Please note: Our business office, Food Pantry and Community Kitchen will be closed Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28. Regular business hours for the office, Food Pantry and Community Kitchen, including donation drop off, resume Monday, December 1.

Thanks to Club Pilates Fairfield for the Food Drive!

Nov 26, 2025

Thanks to Club Pilates Fairfield for partnering with Operation Hope of Fairfield to collect over 200 non perishable items for our Food Pantry!This annual food drive is a big help for our hungry neighbors in need Pictured here is Operation Hope Advisory Board Member Sharon Risley of CAPRI Fairfield and Club Pilates member. We are grateful for our very generous community and especially for Club Pilates Fairfield!

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