Community Corner

Food For Friends Drive Needs More Turkeys

Star 99.9 radio has teamed up with the Connecticut Food Bank to bring a healthy helping to local families this Thanksgiving.

Star 99.9 radio is broadcasting live from Stop & Shop in Westport today as part of its annual Thanksgiving tradition to host a food drive that will benefit the Connecticut Food Bank.

The Food For Friends Thanksgiving Food Drive ends at 7 p.m. and needs your help.

The station hopes to collect at least 999 turkeys but wants to collect as much food as possible for those hungry at the holidays.

Find out what's happening in Westportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

With demand for food up 30 percent compared to last year, food bank officials say the need is high this year — and will continue to be so year round.

"A lot of people are in need for the first time in their life," said Nancy Carrington, the food bank's executive director. "So many people who are working are not able to make ends meet."

Find out what's happening in Westportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While demand is high, Carrington said donations are not keeping up with the increased need. 

"I think a lot of the public are generous people and do respond but it's tough for a lot of folks out there," she said.

Much of the food bank's supply is donated by those in the food industry or the government. Food drives only amount to about 3 percent of the donations, Carrington said.

That's not to diminish the efforts of food drives, though. Carrington said every little bit counts.

With various food drive efforts throughout the state, Star 99.9 has collected about 1,200 pounds of food in the last two weeks, and hopes to continue the upward trend.

"This is the 17th annual one," said Christina Klanchich, a member of the station's street team who volunteered to work the entire day — a 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift.  "It's nice knowing we have a hand in helping out."

For those who missed the food drive, they can support the Food Bank’s virtual food drive,” an online feature that allows people to click on a food item and donate the purchase price of that item to Connecticut Food Bank. Funds donated through this virtual food drive will be used by Connecticut Food Bank to purchase the foods that are most needed.


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