St. Vincent de Paul in Derby continues to give out food by appointment

Sharing from the St. Vincent De Paul Facebook page:

"Our shop, and major source of income for the food bank, is closed for now but we are STILL GIVING OUT FOOD by appointment, from the back of the building - safely and quickly, with a very small, dedicated and big-hearted crew. 

"Need is high! Please swing by with any food donations - which can be left outside in the back while we are "open" (Mon-Fri 9:00-2:30). We are in particular need of jelly, instant potatoes, pasta sauce, veg oil, mayo, canned chicken, Hamburger Helper, baked beans, Chef Boyardee, canned peas - carrots - corn, egg noodles, broth, saltines, oatmeal, coffee, tea. 

"Thank you for helping us keep this vital assistance flowing to our neighbors in need, during this unsettling and tense time.
FOOD = LOVE."

The food bank is at 237 Roosevelt Drive, Derby.

Derby collecting canned fruit for food bank in March

Please help your Valley neighbors with a donation. It will be most appreciated. 

Derby collecting jelly in November for St. Vincent De Paul food bank

Derby collecting canned soup for St. Vincent De Paul food bank

Sharing thanks from Derby official for monthly food collections

Note from Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo:

"Dear City of Derby Colleagues and Friends,

Thank you very much!  

With your help, we delivered 85 cans of beef stew and 2 more jars of mayonnaise to the St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank today.  

If you still have beef stew or other canned goods, please drop them off at City Hall or directly at St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank, 237 Roosevelt Drive, Derby, CT – 203.734.7577.  We keep growing in our third month!

For those who may be new to our distribution list, the Derby City Hall staff, in lieu of a Holiday Secret Santa Gift, donated food to the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry in December.

After discussions with the operators of the Food Bank, we asked them for monthly suggestions for food collections to concentrate on what is in short supply.  

We decided that we would start a monthly collection of one specific item to help them feed those in need in our City and the Valley.  

In January we collected jars of jelly, in February we collected jars of mayonnaise and in March we collected cans of Beef Stew.

It’s April and College Basketball is set to crown its National Champions, its opening day of Baseball season, and the flowers are blooming.  

This month we will be collecting Baked Beans for the St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank.

Please consider donating some cans of Baked Beans and bringing them to the Town/City Clerk’s Office by the end of April and we will deliver them.

I have attached a flyer, as requested, for your convenience.

Please forward to friends, relatives, associates and colleagues.  We appreciate your support.

Thank you for your cooperation and possible participation."

Nonprofit in Derby makes Easter bright for 100 needy families

These are some of the brightly wrapped Easter baskets that were distributed Tuesday at St. Vincent de Paul Helping Hands of the Valley in Derby./Contributed photo

Stay tuned for a story about the annual Easter distribution in the next issue of The Valley Voice newsletter.

Staff, volunteers celebrate expansion at St. Vincent de Paul thrift shop in Derby

Bob Lally, left, board chairman, St. Vincent de Paul Helping Hands of the Valley, thanks board member Ed Twarog who was instrumental in the nonprofit's expansion project.
A reception was held Tuesday to celebrate completion of the addition to the building at 237 Roosevelt Drive, Derby that houses a thrift shop and food bank.

Stay tuned for a story at www.thevalley-voicect.net.

'Helping Hands' nonprofit in Derby needs volunteers

DERBY - On Thursday I visited St. Vincent de Paul, Helping Hands of the Valley Thrift Shop and Food Bank and chatted with thrift shop manager Cindy Barbian.

She and executive director Sandi Bailie are always grateful for the community's assistance and donations. The proceeds from the shop at 237 Roosevelt Drive go toward purchasing food for the nonprofit's food pantry.

Barbian said what they need are volunteers to help with the sorting of donations and to work on the shop's selling floor. 

Items may be be dropped off between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. There is a red bin in the parking lot for clothing donations.

The nonprofit does a great job in helping the needy in the Valley.
While I was there a took a few photos to give folks an idea of what the organization does.

The store features gently used clothing for men, women, and children, housewares, books, toys and more. Prices are always more than reasonable!

Below is a display of girl's summer clothing:

And these photos show some of the shelves in the adjacent food pantry:

Needy Valley families receive holiday help

Volunteers Kaitlyn Marcinko, 13, left, and Brittany LaChance, 15, Friday carry gifts out to clients of St. Vincent De Paul, Helping Hands of the Valley.


DERBY - Christmas came early at St. Vincent de Paul, Helping Hands of the Valley as the nonprofit distributed food and gifts Friday to more than 100 Valley families.

Please check out my story posted today in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Nonprofit in Derby brings holiday cheer to needy families

Ansonia resident Maureen Wilkinson greets clients Friday at a Christmas food and gift distribution at St. Vincent de Paul, Helping Hands of the Valley Thrift Shop and Food Bank in Derby. The nonprofit assisted more than 100 families for the holidays. 

Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.