STAMFORD — Catholic Charities of Fairfield County received a significant boost in its efforts to combat food insecurity from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which donated some 45,000 pounds of shelf-stable food through a nationwide initiative commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, according to Mike Donoghue, executive director of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County.
About 25,000 pounds of food were delivered to Catholic Charities Stamford, home of New Covenant Center, while an additional 20,000 pounds were delivered to the Thomas Merton Family Center in Bridgeport. Volunteers from both organizations unloaded pallets of food and stocked pantry shelves.
The donation is part of a national collaboration between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ community service platform, JustServe, and America250’s America Gives initiative, which brings volunteers, local leaders, and nonprofit organizations together through acts of service. As part of the initiative, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is donating 250 truckloads of food to communities in all 50 states.
“This is a fabulous collaboration with JustServe and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Donoghue said. “By dividing the delivery between our Bridgeport and Stamford facilities, we are able to fill the empty shelves of the Thomas Merton Family Center and prepare for the grand opening of Catholic Charities Stamford.”
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Catholic Charities of Fairfield County share deeply engrained values to help the poor and needy,” said Warren Winegar, communications director for the Fairfield Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Fairfield County resident. “This donation of 25,000 pounds of shelf-stable food continues our long collaboration and aims to meet the growing needs of many in our communities. When we serve alongside each other, relationships grow and differences fade, and JustServe.org is a platform for all to engage in this kind of unifying service opportunities across their communities.”
Catholic Charities Stamford, home of New Covenant Center, is opening a new 13,000-square-foot regional center that will provide meals, an expanded food pantry, housing support, counseling, case management, employment resources and other services. The donated food will stock the new pantry.
New Covenant Center’s soup kitchen serves some 200 people daily, providing three meals a day, 365 days a year, while its food pantry assists nearly 1,000 families each month.
Donoghue said the need continues to grow in Fairfield County, which consistently ranks among the nation’s highest for income inequality, and one in six families in Stamford experiences food insecurity.
This donation builds on a partnership between Catholic Charities of Fairfield County and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since 2020, members of the church have provided food donations, volunteers and additional resources to strengthen Catholic Charities’ mission.
“More than 30 percent of all volunteer hours in the United States are generated by faith-based organizations,” said Cathy Gillespie, commissioner of America250. “Service can unite us. It invites people from every background to work side by side, regardless of political or religious views.”
Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, emphasized the importance of service as part of the nation’s milestone celebration.
“America’s 250th celebration is a unifying moment for our country, and the Church’s efforts are a beautiful example of the American spirit—neighbor caring for neighbor in service and generosity,” Rios said. “We are immensely grateful for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ collaboration and its continued support for this historic celebration.”
For Blaine Maxfield, managing director of Welfare and Self-Reliance Services for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the effort reflects the Church’s broader mission of compassionate service.
“This work reflects our commitment to help individuals through principles of self-reliance and service,” Maxfield said. “These programs are far-reaching and rooted in compassion, designed to lift individuals, families, and communities during times of greatest need. This work happens one by one. Following the example of Jesus Christ, we strive to love our neighbor. Each of us can have an impact in our own communities through service.”
Donoghue said that as Catholic Charities prepares to open Catholic Charities Stamford, home of New Covenant Center, the donated food will ensure pantry shelves are stocked and ready to welcome hundreds of individuals and families from across Fairfield County.
Catholic Charities of Fairfield County is one of the region’s largest private family service agencies, providing food assistance, housing support, behavioral health services, immigration legal services, early childhood education, financial stability programs, and other supportive services that empower individuals and families to overcome barriers, achieve self-sufficiency, and build brighter futures throughout Fairfield County.
To learn more about Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, including the new Catholic Charities Stamford, New Covenant Center, and The Thomas Merton Family Center, visit www.ccfairfield.org
