The presentation check is being held by Susan Agamy, Executive Director, Spooner House, and Daniel C. Schultz, President of Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company./Submitted photo
SHELTON - Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company with headquarters in Stratford and other southern Connecticut satellite locations conducted food drives to benefit Spooner House from April 29 through May 31.
The goal of the M.E.N.U. Project (Mission: Engage, Nourish, Unite) was to provide non-perishable food items and raise funds to aid local veterans and families using the Valley Food Bank and homeless shelter at Spooner House, 30 Todd Road.
Sikorsky joined Lockheed Martin business units across 14 states and two countries in the M.E.N.U. initiative. Each drive outside of Connecticut benefits a local food bank organization.
"It has been an extreme pleasure to work with the nice people at Spooner House and shelter and to help continue the positive impact they are making in the local community," said Chris Quilici, one of the primary coordinators of the M.E.N.U. initiative at Sikorsky.
“This experience made us aware of how difficult it has become for many of our nation's veterans to acquire food. We are extremely grateful and thankful for Spooner House, which provides the means to make food accessible. The motto during the drives within Sikorsky, where helicopters supporting the military are made, was, 'if we can save them in combat, we can feed them at home,' and the Spooner staff helped us deliver on that promise."
The Sikorsky M.E.N.U. food drive collected 1,346 food items.
Online donations from employees and their families totaled $10,368, while other internal fundraisers brought in $5,941, making the grand total of financial donations $16,309.
Spooner House Executive Director Susan Agamy said, “We are extremely grateful for the time, energy, and support of the Sikorsky community, which went above and beyond to serve the local community. A sincere thank you goes out to everyone who participated in the Sikorsky M.E.N.U. food drive in support of veterans, neighbors and families in need.”
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
About ACT
Non-profit Area Congregations Together, Inc. was formed in 1979 to help fill gaps in the Naugatuck Valley’s social service network. Today, Spooner House is operated by ACT and is a facility that provides food, shelter and support services to approximately 150 men, women and children each year.
More than 6,000 individuals have been served by the Food Bank this past year, comprising more than 100,000 meals. Spooner House is recognized as one of the most comprehensive emergency shelter programs in Connecticut and through its food bank provides a week’s supply of groceries each month to participating families throughout the Naugatuck Valley.
Spooner House is devoted to helping people establish self-sufficiency in an atmosphere of respect and dignity. Area Congregations Together, Inc. is a partner agency of the Valley United Way.
This is a press release from Area Congregations Together, Inc.
