Did you know that just a short drive down Route 44 from our neighborhoods here in the Farmington Valley, the reality for many families is vastly different? Today, 26.3% of Hartford residents live below the poverty level, which is currently $33,000 for a family of four. The hunger crisis across the state is growing, with nearly 1 in 6 Connecticut residents facing food insecurity. More than 1 in 4 households with children currently struggle to afford enough to eat. To combat this growing crisis, the Order of Malta operates a weekly food pantry that provides emergency assistance and nutritious food to those most in need throughout Hartford. Their dedicated volunteers work   tirelessly every Saturday morning to help ease the anxiety of parents who are struggling to keep their families fed. 

This summer, our parish family is coming together to help local students start the academic year off right. We are collecting items to benefit the families who attend the Malta Food Pantry, which serves parishioners of St. Justin- St. Michael Church, and residents of several surrounding neighborhoods. When we gather our backpacks and supplies, we aren’t just giving a child a fresh set of notebooks; we are directly easing a financial burden for parents who are often forced to choose between groceries and school essentials. By   contributing to this drive, you are providing a tangible sense of relief and dignity to families living just a few miles away. 

What We Need We are collecting brand-new backpacks and standard school supplies. We are specifically asking for new and unused backpacks, as picking out a fresh bag is an exciting milestone for the kids. Historically, the pantry has distributed between 75 and 125 backpacks to   families. Our goal is to collect enough backpacks to ensure no child leaves empty-handed.  To help fill these backpacks, we are also asking for donations of the following essential supplies: corded headphones, pencil cases, pencils, pens, colored pencils, dry-erase markers,   post-it notes, glue sticks, and scissors. 

Important Dates & Deadlines 

• Collection Deadline: Please drop off all donations by Wednesday, August 12th.  Look for collection boxes in the atrium & vestibule. 
• Distribution Day: We will deliver the supplies to the food pantry for their Saturday morning distribution on August 15th. This timeline ensures that the children receive their new gear a little over a week before their first day of school on August 25. 

If you have any questions about the drive, please reach out to Ed Caputo, [email protected]),or 860-478-8017. 

Thank you for your continued generosity and for making a tangible difference in these students' lives!