HVCC Conducting Emergency Food Drive

The shelves are in better shape than they were about two weeks ago, but the  Hockanum Valley Community Council's Tri-Town Food Pantry desperately needs inventory.

Now.

With Hurricane Irene and winter storm Alfred hitting the area within three months of each other, HVCC officials have been putting out pleas for help. Now, with Thanksgiving a week away, they said it's time to make an aggressive push for donations. 

The HVCC emergency food drive is running through Sunday at the Vernon and Rockville Stop & Shops. They are located at:

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From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., HVCC staff members and volunteers will be on hand to accept donations. Before 9 or after 4, crates will be available at both locations for drop-off donations, HVCC officials said.

The pantry is in need of:

• Cereal
• Macaroni and cheese
• Spaghetti sauce
• Pasta or rice side dishes
• Cans of peas, carrots, beets and spinach
• Jelly or jam
• Cans of stew, Spam, chili and hash
• Gelatin  and pudding
• Pancake mix and syrup
• Cans of peaches or pineapple
• Ketchup and mustard
• Cans of beans
• Canned pasta
• Soup

Cash, checks and grocery gift cards will also be accepted, HVCC officials said.

The food drive is being sponsored by Stop & Shop, the Vernon Police Department, the Vernon Fore Department, the Rotary Club of Rockville and Eastern Connecticut Health Network.

HVCC officials said they are worried about having enough food for the needy  from Thanksgiving through early January.