The Joan C. Dauber Food Pantry at Saint Francis Hospital held its annual Thanksgiving Giveaway on Saturday, November 20. The day was once again an incredible display of generosity, as the team distributed a total of 712 turkeys, whole chickens and turkey breasts along with 80 Big Y gift cards to families in our community, ensuring many could enjoy a quality Thanksgiving meal during a challenging time. A record number of volunteers also stepped up to help, representing the Food Pantry, hospital colleagues, Board and Foundation members, and community members.
A record number of volunteers stepped up to help at the annual Thanksgiving Giveaway at the Joan C. Dauber Food Pantry.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to departments of Saint Francis and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital who supported the efforts by organizing food drives that played a crucial role in meeting the needs of the community, including Pulmonary and Critical Care, the Smilow Cancer Center, Rehabilitation, Primary Care practices, and the Health Informatics team, along with colleagues and hospital leadership. Gratitude is also extended to Trinity College, Hartford Federal Credit Union, Dattco Bus Company, Hemingway Trucking Company, Midwest Food Bank, Connecticut Foodshare, Shalom Enterprises, COMPASS Youth Collaborative, and Phillips Health Ministry for their invaluable partnerships.
The Food Pantry team would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Valerie Powell-Stafford, Hartford Market President, for donating a coffee and hot chocolate station for volunteers and community members, provided by the New England Coffee Guy.
According to the Food Pantry, food and monetary donations are still coming in. They express their gratitude for the generosity and support from everyone who participated in the giveaway that supports so many families in the greater Hartford area. The Food Pantry looks forward to continuing this spirit of giving with the upcoming Coat Drive and Diaper Day on December 20.