Drive in Seymour to support food bank

Help feed needy Valley families

Derby nonprofit needs help to help others

I noticed this on St. Vincent De Paul Helping Hands of the Valley's Facebook page and had to share:

"Easter is just around the corner, in fact we are giving out on March 27 for our needy clients, BUT we are in need of filled Easter Baskets. (They) can be dropped off between the hours of 9:30 - 2:30 through Saturday... Help us to help others."


St. Vincent De Paul Helping Hands of the Valley, at 237 Roosevelt Drive, Derby, runs a thrift shop and food pantry and is always there to assist needy clients. 

Seymour committee to collect food, blankets

Drive to help Valley needy

This information is re-posted from First Selectman Kurt Miller's Facebook page.

St. Vincent De Paul spreads cheer to Valley needy

William Smith of Ansonia loads wrapped packages Wednesday into the back of his pickup truck. He and his family received Christmas cheer, in the form of food and gifts, from St. Vincent De Paul Helping Hands of the Valley in Derby.

Stay tuned for a story about the nonprofit's annual Yuletide distribution.

Food collected in Derby for Valley needy

Derby resident Maxwell DiCarlo, 13, helps advertise a vendor fair/food drive held today in a storefront on Main Street, Derby. His mother, Wendy DiCarlo, coordinated the event.

All of the donated food will be given to a Valley nonprofit to distribute to needy residents.

Food drive/vendor fair is Saturday in Derby

DERBY - On Monday I had a story in the paper about this event that is happening Saturday.

Wendy DiCarlo, a Derby resident, has been working hard to make the food drive a success. There is great need in the community and she wants to help out, and inspire other people to do so as well.

Please consider stopping by Saturday to wrap up that last-minute shopping at the vendor fair and to donate non-perishable food or toiletry items to our needy neighbors. 

'Tis the season.

Salvation Army needs Valley's help for holidays

New donation kettles created by a local resident. 

The Greater Valley Salvation Army, based in Ansonia, is gearing up for the holiday season.

When I visited Major Theresa Burkholder Monday she told me the organization will provide holiday meals and four boxes of food to at least 200 families in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton.
Additional applications will be taken Dec. 4.

A pantry room at The Salvation Army headquarters in Ansonia.

Burkholder said although there is non-perishable food in stock now, the supply will soon be depleted after the organization's regularly scheduled distribution as well as the Dec. 20 Christmas distribution.

Burkholder said the staff concentrates on making sure clients' children up to age 12 get holiday gifts. She is asking for donations of new winter clothing.

The Salvation Army also needs people to volunteer at kettle stands that are located at nine stores throughout the Valley. 

For information on how to volunteer or donate call the office, 203-736-0707.  

Helping Hands of the Valley needs a hand

Shelves are bare at food pantry in Derby

Shelves in the food pantry.

DERBY - Cindy Barbian, manager at St. Vincent De Paul thrift shoppe and food pantry, said she has never seen their supply of non-perishable food items so low.
The nonprofit reopened last week after being closed for the month of August. On Thursday when I visited I saw there was a real shortage of staples such as soups, pastas, rice, cereals, canned fruits, and tuna. Barbian said the only item of which they have plenty at the moment is canned vegetables. But that stock will also start to dwindle as more and more families contact the organization.

The phone has been ringing off the hook, Barbian said. A lot of families are looking for food assistance, and the organization does not have much to give.


Barbian has put the word out that any donation would help the organization to assist the needy. She   is asking residents to keep St. Vincent De Paul Helping Hands of the Valley in mind when they go grocery shopping, and to pick up a few extra items to donate.

It would mean a lot to those who are truly in need.