Annual zuccini letter provides list of needs for area shelters, food pantries and soup kitchens

Posted By: Staff June 29, 2023

Dear Editor,

I am saddened when I realize that after more than 25 years of writing this letter, there are more people than ever that need our help. We have not come up with a way to ensure that all of our neighbors can access three meals a day of nutritious food. Please help if you can.

If your garden is bountiful, see below for where you can donate fresh fruits and vegetables and/or other needed goods. If you don’t have a garden, please note that many of our wonderful local social service organizations need other items and gift cards. Some have Amazon wish lists you can order from. They can all use cash donations as well. We are #bristolallheart. If you can, please help. 

Agape House – (860)261-5733 43 School St. – Drop off at 43 School St. Monday thru Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Clothing Ministry: men’s boxer briefs all sizes, men’s t-shirts all sizes, men’s sneakers sizes 9-14, men’s jeans sizes 30-36 all lengths, bath towels and facecloths, male and female deodorants, male and female razors, tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, men’s basketball and cargo shorts. Food Ministry: fresh vegetables, coffee, sugar, powdered creamer, Fruit, fresh and snack size, paper bowls, paper plates, paper coffee cups, paper towels, napkins, sweet cereals, pop tarts, potato chips, snack bars

https://www.theagapehousebristol.org/

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. They need canned vegetables, pasta, pasta sauce, jam/jelly, breakfast items (cereal, oatmeal, etc.), summer condiments (mustard, bbq sauce, ketchup, dressing, mayo). https://bristolzion.org/outreach/

Brian’s Angels (99 Summer St., rear of Prospect United Methodist Church on Center Street – Entrance on Center Street). 12 noon-3 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Brian’s Angels is serving about 60 clients a day. Needed: Subway, McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts gift cards in $5-$15 denominations. Additonial needs: Water, potato chips, hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter or cheese crackers, sugar, cookies, string cheese, yogurt, pudding cups, fruit cups, pop tarts, oranges, bananas, paper towels, cold cups, general cleaning supplies, tents, sleeping bags, camo tarps, men’s boxers, t-shirts, ladies leggings. Amazon wish list here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2HWU1OOOVM3NF/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2

Sign up to donate sandwiches or a hot meal. https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/1o1d0q.

Salvation Army: (860)583-4651 – 19 Stearns St. – Dry goods and canned goods including canned veggies, soups, sauce, pasta, rice, peanut butter, jelly, cereal. Also, toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes. Fresh veggies which can be bagged up and given out. Drop off donations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

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

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

Cook’s wish list – English muffins, potatoes, single-serve snacks, sugar, powdered creamer, coffee, olive oil, butter, whole milk, squeezable mayonnaise and squeezable jelly.  Grocery Store Gift Cards. 

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

Additionally, they have updated their current needs on their Amazon wishlist: https://a.co/5bLmiEs

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

Friend’s Diners:  Lisa Glazier started these. They are cabinets in people’s yards where you can drop non-perishable food, paper goods, diapers, sanitary supplies, etc. Addresses: Rockwell/Divinity Street, 58 Overlook Ave., 53 Concord St., 237 Washington St., 90 Church Ave. (Asbury Methodist Church – against the building) Pet food: 199 Riverside (Pet Spa).

Organizations which provide food:

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

Grace Baptist Church, 736 King St. – Community Food Pantry is Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until noon, (except the 1st Saturday of the month).

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 355 Camp St., Bristol – Food and diaper distribution. 

Foodshare: https://www.ctfoodshare.org/find-help/

I apologize if I’m missing a few. Please let me know if you have contact information for others. We are all heart in this wonderful city. I know that we will be generous as always. 

Laura S. Minor

Bristol, Conn.

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