The House of Hope Food Drive concluded with a grand total of 8,569 pounds or four and a half tons of food donated by employees and visitors at both organizations. Organizers gathered recently at the final drop of goods. Left to right) Rev. Terry Wilcox, executive director, Bridgeport Rescue Mission; Carolyn Giampe, Aquarion House of Hope Chairperson; Rachel Giliotti, St Vincent's House of Hope Chairperson; Kerry Eaton, RN, MS, St. Vincent's Senior Vice President / Chief Administrative Officer; Linda Casey, Bridgeport Rescue Mission Director of Development & Strategic Planning; and Bruce Silverstone, Aquarion Vice President of Corporate Communications.
Bridgeport, CT. -The House of Hope Food Drive, sponsored by Aquarion Water Company and St. Vincent’s Medical Center, concluded on November 23 with a grand total of 8,569 pounds or four and a half tons of food donated. Two and a half tons of non-perishable food were dropped off at the collection hut located at St. Vincent’s Medical Center while another two tons of food were purchased with monetary donations also collected at the site and at Aquarion.
“Due to the generosity of staff, volunteers, physicians, visitors, and even some area schools, 128 boxes were packed and 14 shipments were made to the Thomas Merton Center, the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, both in Bridgeport, and the Spooner House in Shelton,” said St. Vincent’s House of Hope Chairperson Rachel Giliotti. Said Carolyn Giampe, Aquarion House of Hope Chairperson, “This collaboration has helped thousands of families in the community, and we thank all who participated in any way.”
The collection hut, decorated to look like a gingerbread house, was actually a new shed purchased for the drive as a gift from the Carroll brothers, Charles of Newtown, Frank of Shelton, and Peter of Stratford and their families. Collection storage boxes were provided by William B. Meyer moving company of Stratford. Employees from both St. Vincent’s and Aquarion staffed the booth taking shifts over a two-month period to educate visitors on the goals of the drive.
