Hunger Heroes: Nancy "to the rescue" - Retail Rescue!

Every week in a little neighborhood of Waterbury known as Hopeville, the community is making good on its’ name.

Housed in Hopeville Church, this pantry started with a small monthly distribution, but the volunteers knew the need was greater. Nancy Gordon, now in her mid-seventies, started helping during the early days, “They had just started...at that time it was a once-a-month pantry. We didn't have much, it was very small.”

Nancy was determined to get more food into the pantry so they could help more neighbors. Dusting off her sales background, she jumped in as the lead for Retail Rescue, Connecticut Foodshare’s food recovery program that connects food pantries to local food donors like grocery stores and neighborhood bakeries. Now on the road seven days a week, 3-4 hours a day, Nancy starts her days typically before the sun rises, visiting stores who have set aside food donations for their neighbors. “I'll pick up the deli...the produce. Whatever they have, if it's meat, bread, dairy, I bring it back.” Other volunteers and pantry guests unload the bounty of food from Nancy’s car, and then she’s back on the road again.

Increasing food donations has helped this pantry meet the community need in just a few short years. “We had so much that we had to do a weekly pantry.” Now seeing between 180 and 250 guests at distributions, the volunteers are proud of the

variety and quality of food they are able to offer neighbors.

“People thank us. They tell us...if it wasn't for us, they may not have this meal for their table. The people are appreciative. It's rewarding for all of us. This is why we're here. This is why we do it.”

About 20 grocery stores and local bakeries support the pantry currently, “We appreciate it, everything that the donors do. Whatever they have, they're able to give, and they feel good about that no matter what the amount is, because it all

adds up.”

Please join us in thanking Nancy for making meals happen for our neighbors!