Help Farmington Feed Families for the Holidays

The Town of Farmington Community Services Department has two gifts for you today. First, the department is offering residents the chance to play Santa to their neighbors in need by helping provide their holiday meal. Second, they’re making it really easy.

Between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., firefighters from Farmington Volunteer Fire Department and Tunxis Hose will be collecting food at Stop & Shop in Unionville. The firefighters will be greeting shoppers on their way into the store and handing them a list of items needed to prepare holiday meals for smaller families on the town’s list. Shoppers come out and donate the items, which will be used to stuff a fire truck. The Farmington High Cheerleaders are volunteering to help deliver the baskets early next week. 

Generous residents are also needed to sponsor larger families for the holidays by providing the basic items for a holiday meal. The Community Service Department gives sponsors information about the size of the adopted family and a list of suggestions and sponsors buy the items and pack them up for distribution. Many sponsors pack the holiday meals creatively – in decorated boxes, cloth bags and sometimes laundry baskets. On Friday, the town still had two dozen families to match with sponsors.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a family please call Community Services at 860-675-2390 or stop down and support the effort Saturday, Dec. 17.

Items needed for the stuff a fire truck:

• $10 -  $20 gift card for meat
• 1 bag of potatoes
• 1 bag of carrots
• Can of green beans
• Fresh fruit
• Sparkling Cider/Juice
• rolls
• 1 pie shell/can of pie filling
• Cake/Dessert Mix