A 2-Family Food Drive Inspired By 'East Haven Proud USA' Truck

EAST HAVEN, CT — The music coming from Michael Roy’s truck was as exciting for the Gambardella kids as the jingles from the ice cream man’s truck. Home-bound, the toddler and pre-schooler would run to the door when they heard the sounds.

When Frankie’s birthday came, he turned 2 on April 6, there could be no big party. No grandparents from Rhode Island visiting. A FaceTime party isn’t quite the same. The Gambardella’s put a balloon on their mailbox though so maybe passers-by would honk. Then came Roy’s truck blaring Happy Birthday. He doesn’t know the Gambardella’s and they did not know him. Bethany and Frank Gambardella were blown away by the gesture.

“We have a very busy life,” Bethany said. She’s a Kindergarten teacher in Trumbull who is teaching online. Her husband Frank, an Eagle Scout and troop leader and well known in East Haven works for a beer distributor. Bethany’s parents used to come every weekend from Warwick, RI to visit.

“That has completely stopped. It’s challenging. The kids are missing all the important people in their lives. So Mike coming around has brought joy.”

Bethany did not know Roy and so did a little homework and found out that he’d begun a campaign to raise funds for first responders and food for those in need.

“I thought if this guy can do this for our community, what can we do. With so much unknown right now, teaching and trying to be a good mom (daughter Gracie is 4 and son Frankie is 2) ...one night, I couldn’t sleep and had this idea. Why don’t we do a food drive. My husband grew up in East Haven, knows everybody, so he could get the word out.”

The Gambardella’s and their neighbors the Parisi’s - dad Anthony is a physical education teacher in New Haven, mom Mindy is an art teacher at East Haven High School, and kids Max and Dante - organized a driveway food drive on their street, Angela Drive, and brought in Roy to help by picking up any food collected and delivering it to the East Haven Food Pantry.

And boy, was there stuff to pick up and deliver.

Held Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Gambardella said there was a “great turnout.” She said there was “so much we didn't even count. People were coming with bags from Costco. Some brought dog and cat food. It was so great.”

Bethany said that the food drive on their driveway was a “special day for our neighbors, for all of us.” She said some neighbors met for the first time Tuesday, albeit from afar, as they practiced social distancing.

“We met neighbors yesterday we didn't know we had,” she said. “It’s great to meet people. Kindness is so important right now.”

She said it was also “a teachable moment for the kids.”

“They learn how we can give back to our community. How some people don’t have food. It’s very important to teach our kids that you may be OK, but others aren't.”

Roy is hosting another drive himself this Friday at his East Haven home, this time for food, masks and for the animal shelter, he says.

Photo provided by Michael Roy

>>Read more about the East Haven Food Pantry here and how you can help.

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.