Main Street Waterbury has announced the third annual “Fill-A-Bag” food drive to help stock the food pantries in the Downtown Waterbury area.  Although the needs exist year round, it is during the holiday season that people are most focused on giving. Because a lot of emphasis for food drives typically takes place around Thanksgiving, Main Street Waterbury thought it would be appropriate to have this drive throughout December.

Launched in 2011, Main Street Waterbury has distributed empty brown shopping bags to downtown offices and businesses with the hope that employees and others would fill them with food. Over the past several years, hundreds of bags of food have been collected and distributed to Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries, Waterbury Baptist Ministries, and the Salvation Army.

According to the downtown food pantries, the needed items include tuna, canned meals, peanut butter, boxed cereal, macaroni and cheese, rice, juice boxes, mixed fruit cups, snack items for lunch boxes, pasta and tomato sauce, and powdered milk. Other non-perishable food items are also welcome.

Main Street Waterbury has been dropping off bags to downtown Waterbury offices and businesses this week and will continue to do so through December 6th. Filled bags will then be picked up by MSW staff on December 17th, 18th, and 19th, and distributed that same week. To request a bag or to schedule a pick-up, please contact the Main Street Waterbury office at 203-757-0701 ext. 302