Letter to the editors from Laura Minor

Posted By: Jack Krampitz June 22, 2021

Dear Editors,

This used to be solely a newspaper letter to the editor…but with the decrease in newspaper circulation, it’s become mostly a virtual letter to the Bristol community. Here’s my annual list to help those in need. 

My garden is looking good this year. Last year, the zucchinis didn’t do so well but I had tomatoes galore but few of the agencies below could accept fresh produce due to Covid. 

Now, there are more folks than ever who are in need. If you have a garden, please consider donating your excess produce. If you don’t, please consider making a donation in other ways to help the agencies below. People in our community are in need all year and thus, we need to be generous, if we can, twelve months a year.

Salvation Army: (860-583-4651) – 19 Stearns St. – Canned veggies, soups, sauce, pasta, can tuna, canned chicken, canned pasta, rice, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, snacks for lunches, water, juice, bread, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, fresh veggies which can be bagged up and given out. Drop off donations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10-1. 

https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/southern-new-england/bristol/

Zion Lutheran Soup Kitchen – Meals for Neighbors: (860-589-7744) – 27 Judd St. Only drop off donations from Monday through Thursday – 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the church parking lot. Meals for Jam and jelly, snacks, canned fruit, body care and home care items (toothpaste, shampoo, soap, laundry detergent) ramen noodles, canned soups, tea and coffee. https://bristolzion.org/outreach/

St. Vincent DePaul Shelter: (860-589-0702) – 19 Jacobs St. They welcome fresh fruit and veggies. Monetary donations are appreciated.  They accept donations at any time and if no one answers the bell, call 860.589.0702 to reach a monitor who can come out and take the donation.

Cook’s wish list – English muffins, potatoes, cookies, chips, Pop-Tarts, Sugar, Powdered Creamer, Coffee, Olive oil, butter, whole milk, squeezable mayo and squeezable jelly. Grocery Store Gift Cards. 

Maintenance wish list: Home Depot gift cards (You never know what we need to repair).  

Monitor’s wish list: New Towels and New wash cloths.

http://www.svdpofbristol.com/home.aspx

Brian’s Angels (99 Summer Street, Rear @ Center Street – Entrance on Center Street). Coffee, powdered creamer, sugar, protein bars, Chef Boyardee, tuna in envelopes, cheese and/or peanut butter crackers, bottled water, potato chips (individual packets), bug spray, toothbrushes, toothpaste, men and women’s deodorants, children’s snacks. They are open from 12 -3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.  If you’d like to prepare a hot meal or sponsor one, check out the calendar on the Brian’s Angels Homeless Outreach page. https://briansangels.org/

Agape House – (860.261.5733) 43 School Street – Drop off at 43 School St, Monday thru Saturday from 8am to noon.

Clothing Ministry: Summer Pj’s male & female, men’s boxer briefs all sizes but really need 2x-4x, men’s T-shirts 3x-5x, men’s sneakers sizes 10-14, men’s jeans sizes 30-36 all lengths, bath towels and facecloths, male and female deodorants, male and female razors, 

men’s basketball and cargo shorts – larger size, tents, flashlights

Food Ministry: Fresh vegetables, coffee, sugar, creamer, fruit (fresh and snack size), paper bowls, paper coffee cups, paper towels, napkins, sweet cereals, pop-tarts, potato chips, snack bars.  https://www.theagapehousebristol.org/

For Goodness Sake: (860.916.7138) – For Goodness Sake helps people recovering from homelessness and other severe life events by providing donated furniture. They are always in need of small to medium sized kitchen tables, dressers, dishes, pots & pans, utensils, linens, and lamps. They provide “Welcome Home Baskets” which include new personal care items (deodorant, body wash, shampoo, etc.) and cleaning supplies (window cleaner, bathroom cleaners, sponges, toilet scrubbers, paper towels, laundry detergent, etc.).  To donate, schedule an appointment on their website at www.forgoodnessake.org to drop off in person at 123 Whiting Street, Unit A, Plainville, CT. Hours are Saturdays from 9am-1pm and Sundays from 12pm-3pm.

Daar Ul Eshaan Blessed Pantry – (860.585.9742) – 739 Terryville Ave. CLOSED CURRENTLY.

Necessities Cupboard – check their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/NecessitiesCupboard/

Hand-to-Hand Direct Care Ministries – 465 N. Main Street, Bristol. 860-973-3676. Christian ministry which offers furniture, household items, clothing to those in need. Contact them regarding donations.

New this year:  Lisa Glazier started the Friend’s Diners around town. These are cabinets in people’s yards where you can drop non-perishable food, paper goods, diapers, sanitary supplies, etc. People in need can take what they need. Addresses: Rockwell/Divinity Street, 58 Overlook Ave, 53 Concord St., 78 Summer St., 237 Washington St.,  Pet food: 199 Riverside (Pet Spa).

Please share this information with friends. You can post it on your fridge or keep it with your grocery list or just save it on your phone. Thank you one and all! We are All-Heart Bristol!!!!!

 
Laura S. Minor
88 Anderson Ave. Bristol, CT
860-978-1210 (cell)
860-582-1061 (home)