The North Haven Democratic Town Committee held a community food drive on Thursday, collecting non-perishable donations to help stock the shelves of the North Haven Community Services Food Bank through the summer months.
The drive focused on the food bank’s most-needed items, including soups, chili, beans, peanut butter and jelly, pasta and rice mixes, and canned fruit. Thanks to the generosity of residents and committee members, every item on the food bank’s requested list was donated, along with many additional pantry staples.
The initiative was organized by committee member Heather Tolisano, who wanted to turn a difficult budget season into an opportunity to give back to neighbors in need.
“Over the past several months, our community has had some difficult conversations about budgets, priorities, and the challenges many families are facing,” said Tolisano. “No matter where we stand on those issues, I think we can all agree that no family should have to worry about putting food on the table. I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who donated and helped make this drive such a success.”
The donations support North Haven Community Services, which operates the town’s food bank and assists income-eligible families throughout the year. Summer is often an especially difficult stretch for food pantries: demand stays high while many school-based meal programs pause for the season.
“This is what community leadership looks like,” said Amanda Gabriele, DTC Member. “Heather saw a need, organized a response, and our members stepped up. We hope these donations provide some relief to local families and remind people that serving our neighbors doesn’t begin or end on Election Day.”
The North Haven Democratic Town Committee thanked everyone who contributed and reaffirmed its commitment to initiatives that strengthen the community.