I like to refer to fall as hot chocolate season. I absolutely love sipping a good hot cocoa as the weather gets colder. My new nephew and Godson had his first visit to a pumpkin patch and enjoyed picking out his first pumpkin. It is special moments like these that help us keep things in perspective during a difficult time. This fall, take a moment and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, watch the leaves change, and enjoy the beautiful colors around you. Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, a feeling of trust. Let us continue to have faith, hope and love as “One Faith, One Family.”

As winter approaches, people like to stock up on essentials, but it’s not always possible for many. This pandemic has caused more families to live paycheck to paycheck, which forces them to look for help to get food and essential items. Saint Vincent de Paul Place of Norwich has seen a dramatic increase in new household requests for groceries and necessities.

Saint Vincent de Paul Place is just one of the many organizations to benefit from the Annual Catholic Appeal. Employees and volunteers have worked so hard through the pandemic providing grab-and-go boxed breakfast and lunch meals six days per week. Average daily meals have risen to 306, a sizable increase from last year.

Saint Vincent de Paul Place food pantry continues to distribute pre-made boxes with groceries three days per week, however the dramatic increase in new households has placed a big strain on food and supplies. There are many ways you can help during this holiday season. You may make a direct monetary donation to the ACA. Our ministries always appreciate your kindness and generosity.

You can also give directly to Saint Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich. They welcome most food donations, but are specifically in need of frozen turkeys, peanut butter and jelly, tuna, cold cereal, pasta, canned pasta sauce, canned soup, and Spaghettios. Donations must be unopened, and the expiration date cannot have passed.

Saint Vincent de Paul Place has been serving turkey lunches with the trimmings on Thursdays. Volunteers work very hard preparing and coordinating these fine lunches.

“We plan to distribute 500 turkeys to families through our food pantry program and we will deliver another 300 turkey dinners on Thanksgiving Day,” Executive Director Jill Corbin said. “We are so grateful for the support of the ACA and so many volunteers who give of their time to make all of this happen.”

Our ministries always appreciate your kindness and generosity. The volunteers and employees are so dedicated, and the clients are so appreciative. Our ACA donations continue to be extremely important to help all our ministries carry out their spiritually affirming and life-changing missions. To contribute to our 2020 ACA “One Faith, One Family” please visit the development website or contact Heather Harris, Campaign Manager, at 860-886-1928 ext. 111.

Thank you so much for your generosity. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Stay safe and be well.

By Gina Foster