Stanwich Church's "Lovingly Prepared Lunches" Feed Hungry Children

This summer volunteers from Stanwich Church are teaming up with Bridgeport Rescue Mission and other church volunteer groups and businesses to ensure no child in Norwalk’s poorest neighborhoods goes hungry.   

In conjunction with the Norwalk Housing Authority (NHA), the volunteers are providing breakfast and lunch for 175 children taking part in the Authority's summer youth programs.  The meals will be served for eight weeks at five NHA learning centers located in low-income housing sites in Norwalk, according to a release from the Bridgeport Rescue Mission.

According to the NHA, it is estimated that approximately 12 percent of Norwalk’s school-age youth live in housing overseen by the NHA. The rate of unemployment among their families is greater than 15 percent and most qualify for free or reduced-price lunches at their schools.

“When classes are over for the summer, these kids no longer get the food they receive at school.  That puts an extra burden on their working-poor parents, many of whom simply can’t provide three nutritious meals a day,” said Mission Executive Director Terry Wilcox in the release.

“The Mission is pleased to be able to fill the gap with the help of our local church and business partners who are lovingly preparing lunches for the hungry youngsters,” Wilcox explained in a release prepared by Bridgeport Rescue Mission.  “Each team will sponsor one week, preparing more than 875 sandwiches for the children.” 

Other churches and business participating in the project to prepare lunches include General Electric, Grace Baptist in Norwalk, Hope Evangelical Free in Wilton, Southport Congregational, St. Mark’s Episcopal, Wilton, St. Matthew’s Episcopal, Wilton, and Wilton Congregational.