Hunger Heroes: Stuart's Potatoes Group
Manuel Casanova, our Food Donations Utilization Supervisor, works tirelessly to ensure that donated food is safely and efficiently sorted and distributed to neighbors in need.
Recently, he shared this story about a group of Hunger Heroes who gather to sort potatoes as a tribute to our beloved colleague, Stuart French, who passed away.
A group of volunteers recently joined us at the Wallingford warehouse. During their shift, they asked me if I knew Stuart French. I told them that many of us knew Stuart and remembered the impact he had on Connecticut Foodshare and our community.
They then shared that they were volunteering in his memory because bringing people together to help others was exactly the kind of thing Stuart loved to do. Hearing them talk about him was incredibly touching. I had the opportunity to bring them upstairs so they could see Stuart's photo plaque and learn a little more about his connection to our organization.
What started as a group of individuals coming together for a volunteer shift has now turned into something much bigger. They have officially named themselves "Stuart's Potatoes Group" and have committed to returning regularly to volunteer with us and continue honoring Stuart's legacy through service.
It was a great reminder that the impact people have on our community doesn't end when they're gone. Stuart's spirit of kindness, connection, and service is still bringing people together and inspiring others to give back.
