Fairfield Trio 'A Godsend,' Hosting 20th Food Drive Since March

FAIRFIELD, CT — The world has changed a lot in the last six months, but one constant through it all has been the regular food drives organized by Fairfield residents Helene Daly, Heather Dubrosky and Alexis Harrison.

The trio this weekend will host their 20th drive since March, when the coronavirus pandemic forced widespread closures, leaving many jobless and without a stable income.

The upcoming event is being billed as a “really big” food drive, and its organizers hope to fill the void created when Operation Hope was unable to hold its Really Big Tag Sale over the summer due to social distancing requirements. The annual sale typically draws about 1,000 people and generates at least $20,000 for the Fairfield nonprofit, according to Executive Director Carla Miklos.

“Our vision is really to bring one Fairfield together to help restock Operation Hope,” Harrison said. “… Now more than ever we need to help them.”

The drive will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and will be a drive-thru event at Operation Hope, 636 Old Post Road. Local bands including The 5 O’clocks and The Low Darts will perform, and donors are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and listen to the music from a safe distance. BD Provisions will sell bags of coffee, with proceeds going to Operation Hope.

Operation Hope is serving 35 percent more families and expects to continue to do so throughout the fall and winter, according to a news release about the food drive.

“With more people out of work and children home from school, so many more people are finding it a challenge to make ends meet and are having to make hard choices in order to get through this difficult time,” Miklos said in an email.

Harrison estimates the food drives she has hosted with Daly and Dubrosky have yielded thousands of bags and boxes of food, as well as at least $10,000 in gift cards and money.

“We’ve just met really amazing people who come week after week,” Harrison said. “... Just to see the continued goodness and generosity of people really astonishes me.”

All the food drive donations since March have gone to Operation Hope or Bridgeport Rescue Mission. The trio also held an ice drive after Tropical Storm Isaias in August.

“These three women are a godsend,” Miklos said. “... The food collected has made all the difference in our ability to serve the increase demand.”

Longtime Operation Hope volunteer and Fairfield Ludlowe High School student Andrew McKinnis is partnering with the three women to organize Saturday's drive.

Requested items include: cash donations; grocery gift cards; shelf-stable milk; canned tomatoes (crushed, diced and sauce); applesauce; cereal, cookies (non-bulk); canned peas, carrots and beans; canned stews and meat; pasta side dishes; macaroni and cheese; cleaning products; paper towels and toilet paper; peanut butter; jelly; and coffee.

To donate online, go to operationhopect.org/donate.

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.