Local Volunteer’s 50th Surprise Birthday Party Turns into Opportunity to Give

Local volunteer Erin Biggins’ family and friends wanted to celebrate her 50th birthday in a meaningful way that reflected her sense of kindness, giving and community. They organized a surprise birthday party, where breakfast items and cash donations of $5,000 were collected in honor of Erin to benefit Operation Hope.

From Megan Pritchard, one Erin’s close friends and organizers of the party,” Erin has done the Sherman School Thanksgiving drive with me since the beginning. She is always helping people in any and all ways that she can. She’s literally given the shirt off her back to help a person, and that’s not an exaggeration. Her family and I decided to throw a surprise 50th party for her and I knew that she would be so touched if her birthday, as well as being so fun, also gave back to the community.”
 
We are deeply grateful to Erin and Megan for all they do for Operation Hope through Sherman School, and to Erin’s family and friends for turning a very special occasion into an opportunity to give and help our neighbors in need. This is yet another example of friends in our community reaching out to help in incredible ways that are so easy, so simplistic, so strong, and make such an impact when they seem like such a minor thing.
 
Thank you, Erin, and we wish you the happiest new decade and another wonderful turn around the sun! 🥳
 
 

Happy International Women’s Month 💪

Although March 8 was International Women’s Day, we would like to recognize the efforts of all women in our community and around the world every day. Little things, big things and all the things in between. Here at Operation Hope, we believe women’s participation in society is essential.
 
Please help us celebrate the diversity, resiliency, determination, intellect and warmth of women and girls everywhere, and especially those who work, volunteer and fundraise tirelessly on behalf of our neighbors in need.
 
Happy International Women’s Month 💪

Happy Ramadan!

May this Ramadan bring joy, health and wealth to you and yours 💜

Donate to Help Fill our Pantry Shelves in March

If you’re stocking up on your pantry basics, please take a moment to help our neighbors in need. Our most pressing needs are cash, checks and grocery store gifts cards, which allow us to purchase fresh produce, dairy and meat for our clients.
 
Regular sized items (not bulk) appreciated. Drop off at our pantry M-F, 9am-4:30pm at 636 Old Post Road; there’s a drop off area to the left of the building. Please ring the bell and someone will greet you. Please do not leave donations unattended and when the office is closed. Monetary donations are always welcome so we can purchase exactly what we need for our clients, donate here. Or, feel free to purchase from our Amazon wish list here and your donation will be shipped directly to the pantry. Thank you!
 
– CASH, CHECKS, GROCERY STORE GIFT CARDS (to buy perishables)
– Pasta sauce
– Rice (brown & white)
– Pancake mix & syrup
– Dried fruit & nuts
– Sugar
– Oil
– Flour
– Cereal & oatmeal
– Juice (not juice boxes)
– Jelly & honey
– Ground coffee & tea
– Toilet paper
– Paper towels

Seeking Volunteers to Make 3 Dinners in April for Community Kitchen

Did you know that our Community Kitchen serves lunch and dinner Monday through Friday to feed approximately 50 guests per meal who come to us hungry? For many of our guests, this will be the only meal they eat that day.

We rely on so many generous volunteers in the community and surrounding area to prepare and donate these meals. We have a few holes in our April calendar and seek your help! We’re looking for volunteers to make dinners in their homes and deliver for our guests on April 11, 16 and 30. This is a fun volunteer opportunity for families, book clubs, friends, clubs, teams, Scouts, etc. Please send us an email here if you can help. We will respond with further details and answer any of your questions. Quick overview of what we need:

  • Meal components to feed 50 people and be fully cooked upon drop off
  • Drop off at our Community Kitchen at 50 Nichols Street, Fairfield between 9:30am-3:00pm on day of assigned date
  • Meal components include a protein main, a starch, a vegetable, salad & dressing
  • Beverages (gallon jugs of tea & lemonade are always welcome)
Thank you for considering and for helping feed our neighbors in need!

Fairfield CraftSocial’s Truffles for a Cause

Fairfield CraftSocial, a recently launched, woman-owned DIY crafting company, is making a splash in Fairfield and the surrounding area. Combining crafting and socializing, co-owners and creative partners, Karen Basset and Caryn Mirgorodsky, teach a variety of activities to small groups in their home or business. Activities include charcuterie bouquets, centerpieces, faerie houses, coastal trees and more.
 
In February, Fairfield CraftSocial held a truffle making class to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the newest hot spot in town, Elicit Brewing in Fairfield. Karen and Caryn generously donated $100 of the proceeds to benefit Operation Hope. Many thanks to Fairfield CraftSocial’s Karen and Caryn, the truffle making class attendees, Elicit Brewing Fairfield and ConnectFairfield‘s Debbi O’Keefe for including us in your outreach efforts! Follow Fairfield CraftSocial on Instagram here and stay up date on upcoming events!

IMPACTrumbull Stocks Pantry Freezer with Delicious Grab & Go Meals

Last weekend, volunteers from IMPACTrumbull gathered to make a variety of freezer meals for our Pantry clients to grab and go. The group made 45 meals of chicken divan, beef stroganoff and a breakfast casserole in individual 9×13 trays. Freezer meals are so helpful for our clients to pick up, pop in the oven and enjoy at the end of a long day. We are eternally grateful to IMPACTrumbull for their continued support of our neighbors in need 🫶🏽
 
The group also donated sets of homemade desserts to distribute in the Pantry. Our clients are sure to appreciate the sweet treats! 🍪
 
IMPACTrumbull is an organization of over 100 families in Trumbull who support our local community through hands on monthly projects and collections. IMPACTrumbull volunteers – adults and children – dedicate their time to organizations in Fairfield and New Haven Counties. Since 2012, IMPACTrumbull has completed over 150 projects and donated over 14,000 Blessings Bags and over 1,800 Care Caddies to local shelters and pantries ❤️🙏🏽❤️ 

Thanks to Long Lots Elementary for the Donation of 300 Cans!

Thanks to Long Lots Elementary School in Westport for donating more than 300 cans of food to help stock our Food Pantry! 🥫🥫🥫As part of the Souper Bowl of Caring, the Long Lots community came together to help our neighbors in need. The Souper Bowl of Caring is a national movement across the nation working together to fight hunger and poverty in their communities around the time of the Super Bowl football game 🏈 It’s a great way for schools, churches and other organizations to help #tacklehunger. Thank you, Long Lots community! 🙏

Grocery Bag Stock is FULL

Thanks to you, our stock of grocery bags for our Pantry clients is FULL! We do not need any paper or reusable grocery bags at this time. We are so grateful for your generosity! We’ll keep you posted when we need to restock. Thank you!

OFFICE & FOOD PANTRY


636 Old Post Road

Fairfield, CT 06824
203-292-5588
[email protected]

OFFICE & DONATION HOURS

Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm
(donations accepted until 4:30pm)
Please do not leave donations at the door when the office is closed.

PANTRY HOURS

  • Monday, Wednesday & Friday:
    10:00am - 12:00pm
  • Thursday: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

OUTREACH & COMMUNITY KITCHEN

50 Nichols Street
Fairfield, CT
 06824
203-254-2935

COMMUNITY KITCHEN HOURS

Meals served Monday - Friday:

  • Lunch: 11:30am - 1:00pm
  • Dinner: 5:30pm - 6:30pm