The 1,000 Canned Goods Challenge Is On

EAST HAVEN, CT - It’s on.

Joe Zullo, the state representative and Joe Deko, the East Haven Town Council chair have teamed up with Joseph Melillo Middle School in a challenge to benefit the East Haven Food Pantry.

Middle school students, on
break for the holidays beginning Dec. 23, have begun collecting canned goods and if they collect 1,000 cans of food before Dec. 23, they’ll win the challenge and the schools’ parent
teacher committee will get $1,000, donated by Zullo and Deko.

“Collect those cans!” encouraged Zullo, in a Facebook video posted Monday morning.

In announcing the fourth version of the challenge, which seeks to both shore up contributions to the food pantry and draw attention to the organization’s ongoing need for monetary and food donations, Zullo offered a new twist as extra encouragement for students to meet and exceed the collection goal.

“I know you all have assigned classrooms due to the pandemic. And so, in addition to making a donation to the school’s “PTC,” the classroom which collects the most canned goods will receive a pizza and ice cream party in the spring, but only if the entire school meets and exceeds the 1,000 can threshold.”

Zullo pointed out that, “Food insecurity is a pervasive problem in our town and across our country, and it has been particularly exacerbated this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our food pantry serves over 100,000 meals each year. Now, more than ever, our pantry needs donations so that it can continue to meet the ever-growing needs of those in our community who find themselves in the precarious position of being food insecure.”

Since its inception, the initiative has brought the middle school’s students, teachers, and parents together to organize collection drives and keep track of the canned goods collected. Monies donated in past years have helped the PTC fund extracurricular and supplemental educational programs for students. Over the years, other town officials,
including Deko, have joined Zullo in rolling out the challenge. Deko is back on board this year, and has agreed to once again donate his December Town Council stipend to the cause.

"It saddens me to know we have so much need in our community, but it also warms my heart seeing the remarkable generosity of all of the people who provide the food and monetary donations that allow our pantry to provide all of the meals that it provides each year,” he said. “We are an incredibly generous and compassionate community, and nowhere is that fact more evident that at our food pantry.”

Zullo encouraged folks that
Are able to contribute to the food pantry do so.

"I'm so proud to be teaming up with Councilman Deko to, once again, roll out this challenge. I know our students will rise to the occasion. I am also hopeful, especially as we enter the holiday season, that the initiative will inspire generosity in others. I encourage anyone interested in making a donation or getting involved to visit the pantry’s Facebook page.”

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.