United Way initiates the Grow Truck

United Way not only provides healthy food to 25 participants, two days a month for six months, they also educate participants about making good buying choices and give advice for cooking foods they may not be familiar with in a program called the Grow Truck that was established in Sept.

According to United Way's Community Impact Coordinator, Katy Francis, the New Milford Social Service office and local Visiting Nursing Association (VNA) office identify Asset Limited Income Restrained Employed (ALICE) families who can meet the attendance commitment and the mid-day arrival of the Truck.

25 participants each receive a minimum of 80 pounds of food each session for the 6-month program. The program is held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.

Food is donated to the CT Food Bank by Stop & Shop, Big Y, Shop Rite and other large grocery stores. United Way funds the truck's transportation to New Milford, Danbury and Stamford.

Donations to support continuation of the Grow Truck are made directly to the United Way, 24 Bank St, New Milford CT 06776.

The CT Food Bank is hoping to purchase a second Grow Truck in 2017 to enable the program's expansion. United Way aspires to raise the funding necessary to sponsor a truck in other towns within the region.

“This is a fantastic program that provides healthy food to families who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Francis, “The food they receive from the Grow Truck allows them to have that much more money in their monthly budget to help with child care and other costs.”

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