Food Drive in Southington

SOUTHINGTON – The annual food drive in honor of a late Southington teacher will again support Bread for Life’s summer lunch program, as the nonprofit strengthens its outreach efforts and continues to navigate through the coronavirus pandemic.

The third Cheryl A. Jankura Memorial Food Drive will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 8, at Bread for Life, 31 Vermont Ave.

To help reach – and surpass – this year’s collection goal, veteran professional photographer Art Rich and real estate developer Mathew Florian, both who died in 2020, will be memorialized with Jankura.

The items collected during the contactless food drive will help supplement the summer meals, according to BFL executive director Donna Ayer, including water, juice boxes, individually-packaged fruit cups, granola bars, instant macaroni-and-cheese, pudding, fruit snacks and other snacks like cookies and chips.

“Simply having lunch can be a challenge for children who receive free meals at school. When summer comes and school is out, there is a food gap and Bread for Life steps in to fill it,” said Ayer. “Last summer we prepared and served thousands of lunches for Southington children in need. Through the lunch program we were able to help many families that may be challenged by feeding their children during the summer.”

To help cover the cost of perishable food items, grocery store gift cards are welcomed, as are monetary donations that can be made by check or online, according to Ayer.

The drive each year honors Jankura, a popular visual arts teacher who spent her 36-year career in Southington, the bulk of it at the high school. She retired in 2005 and died in 2011 after a battle with cancer at age 63.

Those wishing to donate before or after the drive can drop off items at Bread for Life weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit southingtonbreadforlife.org or call Ayer at 860-276.8389.