RECAP Seeking Donations For Thanksgiving

MIDDLETOWN – RECAP’s Nutrition Program is seeking donations for their annual Thanksgiving drive. The event brings together donors, community groups, volunteers, and staff to organize turkeys, stuffing, gravy, vegetables, and more into Thanksgiving packages to help the community’s neediest residents prepare a holiday dinner. Most-needed donations are turkeys, canned gravy, boxed stuffing, canned yams and sweet potatoes, instant potatoes, pie and cake mix, and canned fruit & vegetables. Monetary donations are greatly appreciated and help further bulk purchases from local food banks. Donations are accepted until Friday, November 18 at RECAP’s Nutrition & Advocacy Program at 119 East Main Street in Middletown.

“Last year we distributed over 500 packages with the help of volunteers. The food contributions and monetary donations from individuals and businesses keep us going and are just another reminder of what it means to help our neighbors,“ said Francine Tavares, RECAP’s Coordinator of Human Services, who oversees the Nutrition Program’s food pantry. She and her staff and volunteers regularly encourage local families, businesses, and religious groups to start small group food drives.

September is National Hunger Action Month and Francine will be at Shoprite on Dolson Avenue in Middletown on Wednesday, September 21 from 1-2pm for the store’s annual Help Bag Hunger event. Local hunger action agencies will be bagging groceries and distributing information about their work as the store collects donations for the Shoprite Partners in Caring Fund to help fill the shelves of local food banks. Earlier this year, RECAP’s Nutrition Program received a $1,000 donation from the Partners in Caring Fund.