Welcome to the 2012 Photo Review

The photos are a testimony about the scope of charitable contributions from our volunteers and community.

(in reverse chronological order)

A Community Responds...

(row 1)

Hallmark Book Donation - Carl Tallarita, Quality Assurance Manager for Hallmark Cards, delivers 3 cases of books collected in a book drive as a part of a United Way project.

Savings Institute Bank & Trust -  Ed Palomba presents a $100 donation to Linda Bridge, Executive Director.

(row 2)

Enfield Lions Club - Jack McCuin, member of the Enfield Lions Club, presents a $200 donation to Linda Bridge.  $100 will support Lunch Bunch 2012, and the other $100 will help with food purchases.

American Legion Post #80 - Ray Almodovar, Post 80 representative and Food Shelf volunteer, presents a $500 donation to Linda Bridge.

"The Lady Js" Raise $1046 for Lunch Bunch 2012

"The Lady Js," General Federation Woman's Club of Enfield Juniorettes, sponsored, planned, and implemented the "Lunch Bunch 2012 Pancake Breakfast" held at St. Patrick's parish hall.  Gail Wence and Trudy Fleck," Lady Js" advisors, guided and assisted the ladies with the project.  The Enfield Food Shelf serves as the site host for Lunch Bunch, a summer free food outreach project for children 18 and under, in collaboration with local and state non-profit agencies.  Donations of cash and food were received from: James Alaimo, Big Y of Enfield, Costco of Enfield, Enfield Democratic Town Committee, General Federation Woman's Club of Enfield, Gayles Thyme Herb and Spice Shoppe of Enfield, Richard and Claire Hall, Hazardville Motors of Enfield, Beth Hinkel and family, Janik Sausage Company of Enfield, Kim's Nails of Enfield, Janet Kirby, Moe's of Enfield, Ida Packard, Pet Agree II of Enfield, Shop Rite of Enfield, and Tony's Barber Shop of Enfield.  Saint Patrick's parish and Pastor John Weaver made the hall available free of charge.

"The Lady Js" 

Andrea (Vice-Presiden)t, Rachel, Stephanie (President), Jen, Katrina, Aleena

1- The group prepares for the breakfast.

2- Renee Sawyer, Food Shelf volunteer and Lunch Bunch Site Director, separates the sausages donated by the Janik Sausage Company (Enfield, CT).

3- The group mixes the batter and warms the ovens.

4- Tom Arcouette, Food Shelf volunteer, pours the pancake batter onto the griddles.

1- Jen and Stephanie sell the tickets.

2-3-4 Tara, Stephanie, and Alysa, Lunch Bunch kids, welcome and thank everyone while Tina, their mom, prepares the orange juice and cups.

1- Bill Kweder, member of the Food Shelf Board of Directors, receives help from Tina and Tara.

2- Pastor John Weaver and friends enjoy the breakfast.

3- Tim Jensen of "patch.com" and a friend enjoy the pancakes.

"The Lady Js" present a $1046 donation to Roger LeBlanc, liason to Lunch Bunch 2012.

Big Y of Enfield Employees... World Class Contributors!

Michelle, Susan, and Alex spent several hours preparing bags of sugar for distribution to our families.

Volunteers Make It Happen!

At the "Volunteer Appreciation Banquet," hosted by the Board of Directors of the Enfield Food Shefl at the Grassmere Country Club, the Enfield Town Council praised the efforts of the food bank volunteers for their continuing efforts and assistance given to the hundreds of needy Enfield families.  (below) Linda Bridge, Executive Director, accepts the Town Council commendation from Mayor Scott Kaupin and Councilwoman Mangini.

...EASTER at the FOOD SHELF...

Bunnies, Easter baskets, eggs filled with surprises, a raffle for special items, hams and fish, milk, assorted drinks and food items, and cheerful volunteers greeted the 396 families who visited during the 2 days before Easter. The generosity and the caring of the community made these special days possible.

1- Linda Bridge, Executive Director, stands in front of the special raffle items.

2- The volunteers prepare to greet families.

3- Jean Magnificient Van-Fossan and her children, Lauren and Wyatt, created 54 Easter baskets,

4- Cathy offers raffle tickets to the families.

5- The parishioners of the Enfield Congregational Church created 150 "Bunny Bags," and the members of Girl Scout Troop 11076 filled 300 eggs with Easter treats and surprises.

6- Peter Cottontail offers baby formula and cereal to families with children.

1- Bill arranges a variety of drinks.   2- The Maple Hill Farm milk delivery arrives.

3- Lorna, Megan, and Gloria prepare the check-in area.  4- Tom fills the baskets with Easter eggs.

1- Al unloads the deserts from Diana's bakery.  2- Dick brings the canned hams.

3- Barbara stocks the paper products.  4- Robert sorts donations.

Special Birthday Gifts...

1- Luke celebrated his 5th birthday party and asked for food donations.  Luke and his sister, Grace, stand on the scale with 66 pounds of donated items.

2- Hannah celebrated her 6th birthday and suggested food donations for gifts.  Hannah received 86 pounds of donations

Dave and Lou replenish the stock while Betty packs the groceries.

1- Linda checks the shopping items. 2- Judy, Freda, and Mindy work a a volunteer team.

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM Training Session

The Connecticut State Department of Education and the United States Department of Agriculture conducted a training session for summer food service program representatives at the Rensselaer Building in Hartford, CT.  Bonney Durocher - Site Director for Lunch Bunch '10 and '11 and Roger Leblanc - liaison to Lunch Bunch for the Enfield Food Shelf Board of Directors, shared ideas about our summer free lunch project for children 18 and under conducted at St. Patrick's parish hall. 

1- (l. to r.) Dawn Crayco, Child Nutrition Program and Policy Director, End Hunger CT!, Shannon Robins Connecticut No Kid Hungry Campaign Manager-End Hunger CT!, Bonney Durocher, and Roger Leblanc hold a display board showing the statistics about the scope of our food bank assistance and information about the recent "Be My Lunch Bunch 2012 Valentine" fundraising event.

2- Roger LeBlanc explains the methods applied in order to implement the Lunch Bunch project.

21st Annual Scantic Valley Spring Splash

Employees of American Eagle Federal Credit Union Contribute...

(top row) Sharon Mitchell , Patrick Schwartz, John Eric Scott,  Cheryl Ross  (bottom row): Brian Kennedy, Sarah Schneiderman, Joanne Valentine, Lauren Jedidian (missing from photo: Drew William)

Committed to making a difference in their community, the employees spent a Saturday helping us with "spring cleaning."  They sorted and stored food donations, arranged shelves, and cleaned the facility,.

1- Spring is coming... Members of the Bay Path College Rotaract Club, sponsored by the Enfield Rotary Club, created the image, which greets our families as they arrive for food assistance.

2- Helping a sister agency...  Volunteers Mary Ann Harting, Assistant In-take Coordinator, and Cathy Lichanec, In-take Coordinator for Safe Net Ministries (Stafford, CT) watch as Linda Bridge (seated) explains the use of technology for the check-in procedure at our food bank.  The Safe Net volunteers toured our facility and received information about the use of technoolgy in all phases our our operation. 

A Visit from Daisy Troop 10347 and Daisy Troop 10751

The two Daisy troops and their leaders visited our food bank, brought donated foods, and helped with the organization and cleaning of the preparation room.  Linda Bridge, Executive Director, explained our mission and conducted a tour of our facility.

1 - Daisy Troop 10347 leader Ms. Stacey and Linda Bridge prepare for the tour.  The troop stood on our weighing scale, and its total weight was 309 pounds.

2- Daisy Troop 10751 with leader, Ms. Kathy, listen as our Executive Director explains the need for food assistance. The total weight of the troop on our scale was 609 pounds.

"The Lady J's" Model the General Federation Woman's Club of Enfield

"The Lady J's," GFWC Woman's Clubof Enfield Juniorettes

Pictured above, Trudy Fleck - Advisor, Katrina Wertmer, Gail Wence - Advisor, Rachel Testoni, Stephanie Wence, Debbie Fiore - President of the Enfield Women's Club, Andrea Colca, and Aleena Burnell.

Roger LeBlanc, liaison to Lunch Bunch 2012 for the Enfield Food Shelf Board of Directors, spoke to the group about the food bank, its role as the site host for the summer free lunch program for children 18 and under, and the scope of the need for food assistance locally, regionally, and nationally.  "The Lady J's" will assist with planning and the implementation of the "Lunch Bunch 2012 Pancake Breakfast" to benefit funding for the summer project.  The pancake breakfast will be held at St. Patrick's parish hall on Sunday, April 22nd from 9 AM to 11 PM.   

"Be My Lunch Bunch Valentine!"

The special event was held at the home of Karen and Stephen Jarmoc.  Serving as hosts were Emily Happy-Miller - Community Relations at ShopRite of Enfield, Karen Jarmoc - President of the Connecticut Coalition against Domestic Violence and Roger LeBlanc - liaison to Lunch Bunch 2012 for the Enfield Food Shelf Board of Directors.  Honorary hostesses were Alysa, Katelyn, Tara (Lunch Bunch kids) and Tina, their mom.  Katelyn welcomes Reverend Peter and Kathryn Bushnell.  The evening included delicious sandwiches and hors d'oeurves prepared and donated by the Jarmoc and Miller families, a slide show, and testimonies from the three Lunch Bunch kids.  More than $1700 and offers for assistance were received to support the summer free lunch program for children 18 and under to be conducted at St. Patrick's hall this summer.

The Enfield Food Shelf serves as the site host for the Lunch Bunch project in collaboration with the CT State Department of Education, Community Renewal Team, End Hunger CT, Enfield Social Services, Foodshare, Inc., St. Patrick's parish, the United States Department of Agriculture, United Way of North Central CT, and United Way of Central and Northeastern CT.

Click here for more information about sponsorship, donations, and volunteering opportunities contact Roger LeBlanc at rleb17@cox.net or 860-745-3714. 

1- Karen Jarmoc, daughter Grace, and Mary Beth Duffy, Financial Director for ShopRite of Enfield, prepare the foods and drinks graciously donated by the Jarmocs and ShopRite of Enfield.

2- Karen Jarmoc shares ideas with Shannon Robins - SNAP Program Manager for End Hunger CT.

3- Tina LeBlanc, Enfield Board of Education member, and Ed Lamontagne, President of the North Central Chamber of Commerce, enjoy the evening.

4- Special Lunch Bunch valentines from ShopRite of Enfield are Ray Miller, Charles Miller, Emiliy Happy-Miller, and Mary Beth Duffy.  Emily and Ray Miller provided the lap top computer and project for the slide show.

1- Lindsey Weber - Minuteman Press holds 3 month old Emma, the youngest Lunch Bunch valentine.

2- Bill Gordon (r.), Exalted Ruler of the Enfield Lodge of Elks #2222, presents a $500 sponsorship donation to Roger LeBlanc.  The Elks Club has and continues to enthusiastically support our food bank as well as many other community agencies.  In promoting their theme of "Elks care... Elks share," Lodge #2222 conducts a bicycle safety project, donated $500 to the Autism Happens Foundation, Loaves and Fishes, the Fuel Assistance program, serves lunches to Senior citizens, and will sponsor a Children's Easter Egg Hunt on April 7th.

Stop & Shop's "Food for Friends" - Michael Catellier, Stop & Shop Enfield Store Manager, presents a check for $7813.80 to Executive Director, Linda K. Bridge. Funds were raised in the Enfield store during the annual" Food For Friend"s program.

Donations from Target of Enfield- Gail (right) is the Enfield Target store receiver.  Gail has taken on a role as an advocate for Foodshare and the Enfield Food Shelf, and she has been responsible for maximizing her store's recoverable food and non-food donations.  Gail meets Linda Bridge (left), the Executive Director of the Enfield Food Shelf, to learn more about the impact she has had.

1- Maria Burrows(foreground) and Angela Jerome, staff members at Headstart ( Enfield Public Schools, CT), distributed information about the comprehensive child development program that encompasses Early Child Development and Health Services, Family and Community Partnerships, and Program Design and Management..

2- Families had an opportunity to win a "Valentine Raffle" prize during our two pre-Valentine Day food assistance days.

3- Kelley Wilbur, Bay Path College sophomore, discusses her co-op project with Rosalynn Santacroce, volunteer and liaison for the Board of Directors to our "Community Partnership" with the Psychology Department at the college.

Warmth for the Winter from THE NETWORK

1-3 Rosanne, staff member for The Network, cheerfully prepares the hundreds of items and greets families.

4-   Roseanne and Lacey, Food Shelf volunteer (background), assist a Mom with her selection.

Enfield Rotary Club - "Service above Self"

"Bird for Bird"

(l to r) Mike Helechu, President, and Dick Stevens, Rotary member, present a $1529 donation to Linda Bridge, Executive Director.  In its annual challenge, the Rotarians collected $764.50, and Dick Stevens matched that amount.

"Facebook Challenge" - $1 for each response from a friend

1- Rotary President Mike Helechu and Rotarian Jennifer Kiner, project chair, present a $250 donation to Linda Bridge.

2- Linda Bridge and Priscilla Brayson, Director of Enfield Loaves and Fishes, accept $250 donations.