May News from SSKP

Latest News - May 2025

Dear Friends,

In April our "Did You Know" outreach campaign shared facts, pictures, and information about our amazing volunteers.

This month we will be highlighting SSKP's Core Values. These values act as a compass that guides our everyday work, helping to make us a strong, focused, and stable organization.

Below are just a few of these guiding beliefs. Throughout the month we will share one every few days, so that the community can understand and celebrate the values that are most important to SSKP.

Help "Stamp Out Hunger" on May 10th

The "Stamp Out Hunger" nation-wide food drive will be held this year on Saturday, May 10th. Please check for an announcement from your letter carrier to find out if they are participating.

Many of SSKP's pantries receive food through this drive, and you can help! If your mail carrier is joining this effort, leave a bag of non-perishable food near your mailbox on Saturday, May 10th.

Please be sure to check all expiration dates on the food you donate.

Thank you!

Volunteer Appreciation Day at Lenny & Joe's!

To all our volunteers - you are invited to a very special celebration to thank you for all you do for SSKP!

The 2025 SSKP Volunteer Appreciation Day will be on Sunday, June 22nd from 2pm - 4pm. This year our celebration is at Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale Restaurant in Madison, with delicious food and ice cream they have generously donated for our celebration! We are so grateful for all they do for SSKP year-round, and especially for hosting this wonderful gathering.

Please RSVP by June 15th by calling the SSKP Office at (860) 388-1988.

*In case of rain, the event we be held on Sunday, June 29th.

Thank you for Voting in the Essex Bank CIP!

We are grateful to everyone who voted for SSKP in this year's Essex Savings Bank Community Investment Program. Because of your support we ranked first and received $8,824!

These generous funds will provide much-needed food for our neighbors - thank you!

Firehouse Food Drive Fills the Shelves

This year's Firehouse Food Drive was a big success, thanks to eight local fire departments and generous supporters across the community.

Fire departments from Old Saybrook, Essex, Westbrook, Deep River, Killingworth, Chester, Clinton, and North Madison collected over 7,000 pounds of food and close to $3,000 in donations!

Many community partners worked together to make this drive so successful. Area grocery stores hosted teams on the day-of, and local businesses and restaurants provided drop-off locations leading up to the drive.

In Old Saybrook the high school Boys Lacrosse Team helped to unload heavy boxes of food from our truck, and many other community members volunteered throughout the event.

Special thanks to event organizer Max Sabrin of the Old Saybrook Fire Department, Gil Simmons, Chief Meteorologist for NEWS 8 WTNH, Lee Elci from 94.9 FM, and Shore Publishing/Harbor News for spreading the word throughout the shoreline.

We are truly thankful for the support our local fire departments and everyone who donated!

Give to the Spring Appeal

Please support our Spring Appeal! Your gifts will help sustain us at a time of year when need remains high, but income is often low.

If you've already made a donation, thank you!

If you haven't supported the Spring Appeal yet, please make a gift today. Your donation helps our neighbors have the food they need now and throughout the year.